Go figure...

Well, I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow. Which means I'll be gone July 1st, the first day of free agency... without access to the internet. Or cable. Or any tv, for that matter, as my aunt only gets two public access television stations and my grandmother's reception is snowy and you can't hear the ABC station because the audio being picked up is the classical music AM station.

And the worst part (worse than a normal visit, at least) is that the Canes are probably going to do the big deal for a defenseman over this period - and I'll only find out about it if I read the "Transactions" part of the sports page. Maybe, if I'm lucky, they'll have a paragraph synopsis...

*sigh*

Catching up...

So, haven't posted in a while because summer is in full swing - and in the ultimate oxymoron - I have all the time to post, just nothing to post about.

Anyways... there was a little switcharoo in the Canes coaching scheme. Tom Rowe from Albany is the new assistant coach for the Canes, while Jeff Daniels, the previous assistant, goes down to coach Albany. I just kind of shrugged when I heard the news - not a big deal, I don't think, but it'll make Laviolette's seat become hotter if the Canes don't make it this season.

Michael Leighton was signed on a one-way contract, getting him $600,000 a year for two years. Which is a good move, wrapping up our backup goalie spot with a goaltender who looked frickin' awesome in the AHL this year. (And he didn't look too shabby when he came up for those games this past season, either).

And finally, happening yesterday, the Canes extended their lease with the RBC Center until 2024. Sounds like good news to me!

So, I'm telling myself that I'm going to post two times a week, just to help all you other hockey fans through the summer doldrums. Then again, I told myself for the past two years that I was going to make a hockey shrine out of the 2006 playoff stuff... and it's still sitting in a pile on the table. Oops.

Stupid Red Wings

Well, if today is any indicator, summer is going to be a real biznitch around here. Right now it is 95ºF, feels like 99º... and it doesn't look like it's going to get any cooler anytime soon. And what is it, June 5th? Wow... better than the cold in my book, though.

So, yesterday, the Canes resigned Patrick Eaves to a three year deal which gets him an average of $1.4 mil a year. Seems like a pretty good deal to me, seeing as he's in the beginning of his career now. And I was totally going to post this yesterday, but I got sidetracked by my new cell phone arriving (It's pink! And shiny!), which also means I missed Game 6, which gave the Red Wings their trillionth Stanley Cup in 10 years, or whatever stat they keep spouting. Just one Cup is too many for them, in my opinion, but... *sigh* I guess there's always next year.

Speaking of next year, Glen Wesley won't be on the team. He announced his retirement today. Which is sort of a shame, because he's been with the Whalers/Canes for what seems to be forever, and I know I will definitely look twice when I don't see him out there. I think it's great, though, that he had such a long career and was finally able to top it off with a Stanley Cup.

That being said - to all you Canes personnel out there - I have one word for you: DEFENSEMAN. We need a good, solid, trustworthy, not old, not small, possibly goal-scoring defenseman. That is my solemn offseason wish. That, and you don't trade anyone I like for said defenseman.

Summer's ending...

You know what's horrible? This time next week, I'll be back in school.

Ugh.

The good news is that, soon after school starts, it's hockey season! I cannot wait until I actually have something worthwhile to post on this blog...

Interesting...

File this under interesting: Phoenix Coyotes trade Kevyn Adams to Chicago Blackhawks for Radim Vrbata.

One ex-Cane for another!

Yeah... that's actually all that's interesting about it... that's summer hockey news for ya...

Ah summer...

Walking barefoot on concrete that has been in the sun in 102 degree weather is not advisable.

Just an FYI...

Update on summer boredom

Not much has happened for the Canes in the past week.

Today's N&O article suggests that the signing of Jeff Hamilton might be the last free agency move for this offseason. Instead, it appears the Canes will look to trade to find another canidate for the third-line center. And that possible defenseman trade (mentioned back before the free agency date) is still on the table. I thought that trade had died a while ago...

And... that's it for now.

Another To Do List

Nothing happening. The NHL Entry Draft is at the end of this week. Canes have the 11th pick. (That's one good thing about missing the playoffs - a better draft pick)

Anyways... as it is summer, it's time for another Summer To Do List. (YaY?) Like last year, this is only posted on this blog for my reference and because there's nothing else to take up space in the blog posts. The difference from last year is that I'm starting this in mid-June (as last year I had rather a lot to post about in mid-June...).

Complete AP English III summer assignment.

Complete AP Environmental Science summer assignment.

Complete AP US History summer assignment.

Yeah, three summer assignments this year. I can tell this is going to be a real fun school year.

Clean up this room

Actually, I don't have much to clean in this room. Just shove some things into the corner, and I'm done.

Clean up my room

Yeah, my room's possibly even messier than last year.

Clean the bathrooms

Complete hockey shrine

Never did get around to this last year.

I think that's it, for now. Like last year I will keep my loyal readers updated, because I know you're just so interested in my Summer To Do List.

Video Games and Boredom

You realize that, during the summer, I have all the time in the world to post - but there's nothing to post about? That's some irony.

Anyways, Eric Staal will be on the cover of EA Sports NHL '08 game.

Yeah, I'm just hoping there's no Sports Illustrated cover jinx on this one.

Um... that's really it.