Corvo comes back to the Canes

So the Canes actually did something in the free agent market today (amazing, I know). They signed Joe Corvo to a 2 year contract worth $2 million this year and $2.5 the next.

I think it's a good signing. Corvo is a good defenseman and has played solidly with the Canes. It's not an exorbitant salary, like we've seen with other defensemen this offseason, but I think it's a fair one. I also feel a lot better about the Canes blueline now - I wasn't enthralled with the prospect of McBain and Harrison in our top six to start the season. Now I think the Canes are a bit more secure defensively, and will be more prepared if injuries happen.

I doubt the Canes will do too much else this offseason as they are close to their self-imposed cap... but you never know. Updates, as always, will be here.

UPDATE 5:27 PM: The Canes also announced that they have agreed to two-way contracts with Nicholas Blanchard and Casey Borer.

And, the Canes site also has a nice take on the Corvo signing - sounds like Corvo took a "hometown discount" to stay with the Canes. But I find the most interesting blurb to be the following:

Rutherford said that the signing of Corvo does not mean that he’ll stop talking to defensemen Brett Carson and Alexandre Picard about a return to the team, but that negotiations with those two will be the extent of his free-agent hunting for the time being due to his preference to let young forwards battle for spots in training camp.

Sounds like that's the end of anything interesting for our Caniac summer.

First Preseason Game!

The Canes dropped their first preseason game on Friday, losing 4-2 to the Nashville Predators.

First of all, it was completely awesome to hear Chuck K call a game. It's been sooo long without hockey, this preseason is a definitely welcome event.

Apparently the Canes didn't play too well in the first two periods, although my man Erik Cole opened up the scoring with a goal on the power play. Unfortunately, 58 seconds later, the Canes let Nashville knock one in.

Nashville scored two goals in the second, one coming off of a bad turnover by Zach Boychuk. Not good for one of the future stars of the team, but, hey, it's preseason - as long as it's not a habit, right?

In the third the Canes picked up the pace, but they were unable to rally enough to win.

After this game, the Canes have already trimmed their roster. The only person heading up to Albany that played in Friday's game was Nicholas Blanchard - who had a fight in the second period (This guy seems like my kind of hockey player - 132 PIM in 55 games in Albany last year).

The next game is tomorrow against Atlanta. Hockey season is back!

Erik Cole stats: 1 goal

Chad LaRose stats: 1 assist

Bus crash and a win

Big day in the realm of the Carolina Hurricanes yesterday.

First of all, the Canes' minor league affiliate, the Albany River Rats, were involved in a horrible bus crash early Thursday morning. Apparently the bus was traveling in snowy conditions when it flipped over and came to rest by a guard rail. Luckily, everyone was able to walk off the bus, although 4 players (Casey Borer, Joe Jensen, Nicholas Blanchard, and Jonathan Paiement) and the radio commentator were kept in the hospital with more serious injuries. Hopefully they will recover quickly - it was very lucky that more people weren't seriously hurt.

As for the Hurricanes, they kicked butt in a 6-2 win over the Islanders. A well-played game with some fights in the third period (Conboy v. Jackman and LaRose v. Comrie. Neither was a bout to write home about, but I'll take them considering how rare fights are when your team is the Canes). The Canes really set the tone of the game at the end of the first period by scoring two goals in less than a minute.

Essentially, I think the team should play on the road the rest of the season, considering their recent road streak and their current home losing streak. But, that's not going to happen tonight, as the Canes take on the Lightning at home. The Canes are still ninth in the standings, but have closed the points gap to three.