Matt Karash: Did the free agent market run right past Jim Rutherford? --- Canes bottom 6

Gotta think the Canes are gonna follow the path the Islanders took last fall, and pluck a few waiver wire players that other teams will try and sneak through. It seemed to work as the Isles made the playoffs.

On Morrow: meh, why not. I guess at this point he'd take a pretty big paycut. Where's he gunna go, Europe? He'll take poopty money to play in the NHL over sitting a season out/retiring

Morrow at $2-$2.5mil would go a long way to evening out these lines. Still, JR has set this team up with a lot of pressure on Lindholm right now. He's basically the key towards filling out the top 9 and we have no clue if he's even close to NHL ready. If he goes back to Sweden you're going to be left with at least 2 forwards being overslot.

I hope Komisarek does well.

I think that we have a solid bottom six after the additions of Palushaj and Gerbe. As well as signing the two of them, Riley Nash is looking very promising, and we could also see Victor Rask make the team this year. However, I think that we need to give Lindholm another year in Sweden to develop.

If you ask me our bottom six looks like this at the moment:

Bowman - Nash - Dwyer
Blanchard - Gerbe - Palushaj/Westgarth

I think that by the end of the offseason the Canes will have signed either Hainsey or Morrow. We have 4.8 million in cap space which I dont think is enough to sign both of them. In my opinion they would both be good signings. If we got Morrow it seems obvious that we would slot him as 3rd line LW. Hainsey would solidify our defense, and he would probably play inour third pairing maybe with TIm Gleason or Ryan Murphy. As well, with the uncertainty of Pitkanen's injury, there could be a void to fill on the blue line.

I'm not sure how you can say we need to give Lindholm another year, and send him back to Sweden. I think that part of his development will be to play top 9 this year as oppose to go back to Sweden. If we don't have lindholm or Morrow in the lineup, our bottom 9 will get crushed and we could possibly be I'm the McDavid sweepstakes for next year.

I don't understand the Gerbe signing. He's a good player who plays with heart but he's small and kind of in the Larose category so if Rutherford is going that direction why not just sign Larose?

I don't understand the Gerbe signing. He's a good player who plays with heart but he's small and kind of in the Larose category so if Rutherford is going that direction why not just sign Larose?
- Barbecued Hockey

Isn't there a conflict of some sort?

Isn't there a conflict of some sort?
- mes418

I don't know of any conflict with Larose but I don't follow things that closely most of the time. I just know that Larose is a guy who plays with a lot of heart (not necessarily talent) and is a fan favorite. He's a great interview for the media. If Rutherford is hiring 4th line talent why not just stick with the devil you know.

I can't stand people getting caught up with the size issue. Why not sign Larose when you can sign Gerbe. What type of logic is that? Larose was absolutely lost out there last year, he is a huge defensive liability, and is not as fast, skilled, conditioned as Gerbe. So why not sign Gerbe for 550,000. That's dirty cheap for someone that could be around .40 a game on 3rd line in Carolina. Obviously it's not the winger we were looking for, but it's a big upgrade over Larose.

I can't stand people getting caught up with the size issue. Why not sign Larose when you can sign Gerbe. What type of logic is that? Larose was absolutely lost out there last year, he is a huge defensive liability, and is not as fast, skilled, conditioned as Gerbe. So why not sign Gerbe for 550,000. That's dirty cheap for someone that could be around .40 a game on 3rd line in Carolina. Obviously it's not the winger we were looking for, but it's a big upgrade over Larose.
- StaalsnUrinals

His stronger shifts can have an inspirational effect too, though you'd never know it by watching his last team.

I can't stand people getting caught up with the size issue. Why not sign Larose when you can sign Gerbe. What type of logic is that? Larose was absolutely lost out there last year, he is a huge defensive liability, and is not as fast, skilled, conditioned as Gerbe. So why not sign Gerbe for 550,000. That's dirty cheap for someone that could be around .40 a game on 3rd line in Carolina. Obviously it's not the winger we were looking for, but it's a big upgrade over Larose.
- StaalsnUrinals

The grass is not always greener. Chad Larose has played in 508 games with the Canes scoring 85 goals and 95 assists for a .35 ppg average. He has an 8 year history with the Canes and has his name on the cup. Gerbe has played in 188 games with Buffalo scoring 29 goals and 43 assists for a .38ppg average. Statistically not a lot of difference and you lose a lot of history. I'm happy to see Larose move on but I just don't get signing Gerbe when you are trying to get the team bigger. The Canes got physically pushed around last season largely because our team had a high number of smallish players or players with size but did not play physical.

I don't understand the Gerbe signing. He's a good player who plays with heart but he's small and kind of in the Larose category so if Rutherford is going that direction why not just sign Larose?
- Barbecued Hockey

I think it comes down to contract. Gerbe is on a 2-way deal so if he makes the team cook; if not, he goes to the AHL where he is signed to an AHL salary. I cannot imagine Larose is willing to take a 2-way contract. The other side event that someone alluded to is that Larose supposedly skipped his exit interview which might have burned a bridge.

I think it comes down to contract. Gerbe is on a 2-way deal so if he makes the team cook; if not, he goes to the AHL where he is signed to an AHL salary. I cannot imagine Larose is willing to take a 2-way contract. The other side event that someone alluded to is that Larose supposedly skipped his exit interview which might have burned a bridge.
- CarolinaMatt63

I didn't know about the exit interview so thanks for filling in the details.

Morrow at $2-$2.5mil would go a long way to evening out these lines. Still, JR has set this team up with a lot of pressure on Lindholm right now. He's basically the key towards filling out the top 9 and we have no clue if he's even close to NHL ready. If he goes back to Sweden you're going to be left with at least 2 forwards being overslot.
- Gossler1

First, welcome Danielj. Make sure you speak up when you think I am wrong. I am opinionated and passionate but understand that mine is not the only opinion.

We would have to see it in camp, but I really like the idea of someone like Morrow next to Skinner and Lindholm. Montreal did this incredibly successfully with 2 kids (Gallagher and Galchenyuk) and some size and protection (Prust). They leaned real heavily on their top 2 lines and picked spots and limited minutes a bit with that 3rd line to the tune of very solid secondary scoring and also shift counts that kept both the physical vet and the 2 kids fresh deep into the season. There are 3 issues. First, we have not even seen what Lindholm can do so who knows. I am not sure Morrow has ever played RW, so I am not sure it is even a workable option. And then there is the chemistry thing always with any knew line that is hard to predict until you see it on the ice.

But conceptually, I like the idea of the 2 skilled kids paired with a physical straight line kind of player who can also make sure no one takes liberties when they are on the ice.

First, welcome Danielj. Make sure you speak up when you think I am wrong. I am opinionated and passionate but understand that mine is not the only opinion.

We would have to see it in camp, but I really like the idea of someone like Morrow next to Skinner and Lindholm. Montreal did this incredibly successfully with 2 kids (Gallagher and Galchenyuk) and some size and protection (Prust). They leaned real heavily on their top 2 lines and picked spots and limited minutes a bit with that 3rd line to the tune of very solid secondary scoring and also shift counts that kept both the physical vet and the 2 kids fresh deep into the season. There are 3 issues. First, we have not even seen what Lindholm can do so who knows. I am not sure Morrow has ever played RW, so I am not sure it is even a workable option. And then there is the chemistry thing always with any knew line that is hard to predict until you see it on the ice.

But conceptually, I like the idea of the 2 skilled kids paired with a physical straight line kind of player who can also make sure no one takes liberties when they are on the ice.
- CarolinaMatt63

We would still need to get rid of some salary to sign Morrow and I'm still not sure where that would come from.

We would still need to get rid of some salary to sign Morrow and I'm still not sure where that would come from.
- ward30nhl

JR has already said he was gonna try to move a contract, and a free agent had said he would wait... so if he can move it (he gave no time limit), then we plug that FA (likely Morrow) into the 2nd or 3rd line and three lines are pretty set. Dalpe, Nash, Welsh, Bowman, Dwyer, Westgarth, Sutter, Staal-Jared, give a reasonable number of chances for filling out the roster, me thinks!

Matt, i think you're forgetting the team that finished poorly , last year, was in 1st place in the SE prior to Wardo's and other injuries! With the known and assumed changes this team is better, especially the D!!!!! So why the pessimism?

Matt, i think you're forgetting the team that finished poorly , last year, was in 1st place in the SE prior to Wardo's and other injuries! With the known and assumed changes this team is better, especially the D!!!!! So why the pessimism?
- randycane

I like your optimism. And it is a legitimate point.

I'll second the salary reasoning for gerbe over larose. Larose made 1.3mil last year and gerbe is going to get 550k. Less than half of what larose was being paid. That's why. Not to mention the 2 way contract as Matt mentioned.

I would say I like the Gerbe signing over Larose too. I liked Larose for his chirpiness but that was about all he was good for. Plus Gerbe can be sent to the AHL if need be. Like Matt I think the 'canes are going to really be leaning on the top lines again and use the 3/4 line simply to allow some rest to the top guys. With that I'm hoping that the bottom 6 can just play a little in the ofensive zone and not looking like figure skaters in the defensive zone as they did last year. I would love Morrow coming here and feel that he would be great on a 3rd line with Skinner and Lindhom. That's if JR can get a deal done. I see Drywer on the second line with J. Staal and Ruu. Skinner had no chemistry with J.Staal so why try that again. In regards to the D I think it is much better but needs to be better. I would not mind seeing Joni Pitkanen being traded or even bought out and the money used to sign Hainsey. Hainsey is a similar style player who is not injuried nearly as much as Pitkanen.