Canes Ink Eaves To a New Deal

In the first of what is likely to be a series of announcements over the next few weeks leading up to the July 1st free agency deadline, the Carolina Hurricanes announced on Wednesday that they have inked forward Patrick Eaves, a restricted free agent acquired from Ottawa in February, to a new 3 year deal. Eaves, 24, will get $4.2 million over the life of the contract - $1.1 million in 2008-09, $1.4 million in 2009-10 and $1.7 million in 2010-11.

Eaves, who spent most of 2008 battling shoulder and neck injuries, was acquired along with defenseman Joe Corvo in the Feb 11th trade that sent Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore to the Senators. He missed a grand total of 42 games to injury in 2007-2008, and notched a goal and 4 assists in 11 games for the Hurricanes after the trade. To my eyes he showed flashes of speed and grit in his limited action for the Canes that could definitely prove valuable in the long haul.

Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford has this to say about today's signing:

Patrick is an important part of our forward corps going forward. He just turned 24 years old and already has a 20-goal season under his belt. He battled through some injuries this past season, but we are looking forward to having him back and healthy this fall.

Eaves underwent shoulder surgery on March 28th.

You can read the full story HERE.

-m

The Inevitable

Well, it has finally come to pass.

The Detroit Red Wings are Stanley Cup Champions again, proving that not much has changed post-lockout afterall. (Just kidding, but with next year's league salary cap creeping towards $60 million...). Once again, Hockey Town is the center of the NHL universe. And I have to admit, they definitely deserve it.

The Penguins gave the desperate last second comeback one more try, but came up just short, as Marian Hossa's lunging stab at a rebound trickled just parallel to the goal line as time expired. Pittsburgh took advantage of a power play with under 2:00 minutes to play (so much for the refs swallowing their whistles, eh) to pull within one. But as it turns out Henik Zetterberg's shot that trickled slow-mo like through the legs of Marc-Andre Fluery's legs early in the third turned out to be the game winner. Zetterberg got the Con Smythe, as much for his stellar defense as his offense, even though he tallied more playoff points than any Red Wing in history. And that's saying something.

All in all it was a game effort by the Pens, but the Wings were obviously the better team. Exceptionally skilled both offensively and defensively and exceptionally deep as well. They once again dominated the third period, managing to escape the last second heroics this time around. It was not as dominating as their Game 6 win over Dallas on road ice in the conference finals, but it was impressive nonetheless. Once again the only thing standing between the Wings and a blowout was Fluery, who seems to have taken giant steps towards the greatness that has been expected of him for so long.

An exciting series over all, and I hope a lot of people got to see it. Guess we can take a look at the overall TV numbers tomorrow or Friday. Either way I think the NHL got the showcase they were looking for. And I don't think there's much doubt that the Pens, with their core of ridiculously young stars (Fluery is long in the tooth with this bunch and he's only 24), will be a force for years to come in the East.

I'm a little sad to see the year come to a close, and am already looking forward to September. Until then I guess we can have fun with all the speculation and craziness of the off season and free agency to come.

Man, I love this game.

Go Canes!

-m

For The Love Of The Game...

I was not born and raised a hockey fan. Far from it. I was raised on baseball and college hoops on Tobacco Road.

Youth hockey did not exist for me. And if it had, I nor the adults at the Eden Boy's Club, would not have known what to do with it (I remember being taught soccer by a coach who was reading out of a book at practice). It's hard to pinpoint exactly when I was first exposed to hockey and when I officially "became a fan". I vaguely remember the Montreal Canadians from the mid-seventies, and perhaps a little more clearly the Islanders run of 4 straight Cups in the late 70's (for some reason I cannot quite pinpoint now, I pulled against them every time). Then there was the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid, where I vividly remember me and my Dad (who was never a hockey fan at all and now only holds a passing interest) cheering loudly in our living room as Al Michaels asked "Do you believe in miracles?" Yes! Perhaps that was the moment.

Or perhaps it came when some kids named Messier and Gretzky from a Canadian oil town finally vanquished the Isles and started an amazing dynastic run of their own? I remember that those Oilers teams were the first that I followed regularly and it was through them that I became a "fan". I also pulled for the Rangers because they were the hard-luck kids (similar to my beloved Red Sox), and because they were the Islander's rivals (again, I'm not sure what it was that turned me off about the Isles - maybe their brutish physical play, or just their run of dominance that turned me towards the underdogs). In college I would attend minor league games in Greensboro and Raleigh but did not have a team of "my own". But my fan hood grew and when Peter Karmanos came calling from Connecticut, I felt bad for the fans in Hartford, but ecstatic that I would finally have a team to call my own.

But through it all something was happening that was almost imperceptible. I was falling in love with the game. It was starting to tug at my allegiances that had always fallen solidly with baseball and basketball.

Today, I would have to say that I am a hockey fan above all else. When the Red Sox won the World Series, especially coming from behind to beat the Yankees in historic fashion it was an amazing feeling. But it was more a feeling of deliverance and relief. Like a weight being lifted. When they did it again last year it was almost like ho-hum. I was happy, but I was no longer emotionally invested. And in neither case did it come close to the feeling of Game 7 of the 2006 finals and watching Rod Brind A'mour lift that Cup above his head and jump around like a little kid.

I no longer get (as) upset when the Yankees beat the Red Sox or Duke loses to UNC. But the Hurricanes missing the playoffs can send me into a funk that lasts for weeks. I know it doesn't make any sense. But I know that it makes me a hockey fan. First and foremost.

And as a hockey fan tonight's EPIC Game 5 between the Red Wings and Penguins was absolutely amazing. I don't have a rooting interest. I'm not pulling for or against either team. I just want to see good hockey on TV for a little while longer. And it does not get much better than this.

I don't think anyone expected Pittsburgh to win this game. As talented as they are, Detroit has just been too good this playoff season. But the Pens jumped out to a two goal lead and suddenly things got interesting again. However, by the third period, the Wings were absolutely dominating the play and the Pens' lead quickly disappeared. The Cup was in the house and I fully expected it to be skated around the ice by the guys in Red. But then we were all reminded of how truly great this game can be.
It was a joy to watch - the skill, the stamina, the determination, the desperation.
And in the end the sheer jubilation of a Penguins team that after 5 1/2 periods of elimination hockey will live to fight at least one more day.

I'm sure the game will be analyzed and lionized by folks far more eloquent than I.
But all I know is that it's after 1am and I'm jubilant and exhausted. And I did not even have a dog in this fight. I can only imagine what the fans in Detroit and Pittsburgh are feeling.

And that's why we love this game.

-m

Dance Dance Dance

As all of the free world probably knows by now, Kristi Yamaguchi took home the title Tuesday night on Dancing With The Stars. The N&O has a story here. Apparently she garnered the most points through the competition in the history of the show. Congrats to Kristi. Though I have to admit I did not see a minute of the show.

Also of note, a few days ago the N&O ran a story about how Mr. and Mrs. Yamaguchi were making plans to put down roots in California in the not so distant future. Hmmm...guess that's something to mull over as Brett returns to Raleigh to have a sit down with JR...natch, pack up his belongings?

Whatever Brett decides to do, UTTR wishes him nothing but the best.
He's earned it. We just like to kid...


-m

Off Season Game Plan

Well I'm back from my temporary sabbatical, which ended up lasting a lot longer than I expected. Turns out looking for a job, a little bit of travel and attending weddings took up a bit longer than I expected. But hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things quickly.

Was psyched to see that the (manufactured?) melodrama over Coach Peter Laviolette's job status seems to have been settled, for now at least. I found Jim Rutherford's comment - "This became a bigger issue than it needed to be" - somewhat amusing as it was JR's bristly refusal to give any thing resembling even a lukewarm endorsement of Laviolette that led to all the speculation in the first place.

Also today, over on TSN.com, Scott Cullen has posted his "Off Season Game Plan" for the Hurricanes. I had been waiting on this, since I had enjoyed Cullen's prognosis for other teams in the league so far. Have to say that I think he got things right for the most part, but it would be hard not to know what the Canes need most (defense, defense) assuming an even passing glance at their shortcomings last season. Erik Cole and Justing Williams are still offered up as possible trade bait for a top line defenseman, which is not surprising I guess, but I really hope it does not come to that in either case. There are also some free agent options listed. Check it out. Perhaps I'll offer up some of my own, completely uninformed, opinions on this stuff soon. I know you will be on the edge of your seats for that!


-martin