The season is in sight

Hm... I guess I'd better update this blog, eh? I mean, after whining and moaning and groaning about the offseason - HOCKEY IS FINALLY HERE!

Yep, the Canes play their first preseason game this Friday. Training camp has already opened. But let's take a quick look back at what has happened in the remnants of the offseason:

- The Hurricanes prospects beat the crap out of other team's prospects. A good sign for the future, I think.

- Joni Pitkanen had knee surgery and is expected to be out 2-4 weeks.Can we never start a season without some defenseman having surgery right before? I swear, that's the tale we get every year.

- Speaking of defensemen, Bret Hedican announced his retirement.

-And, finally, according to Google Analytics, someone found this site by searching "real live hockey deaths". Which is not only slightly macabre, but also a bit of an oxymoron.

Aaannndd... that's it! The the games begin!

Injury bug strikes again!

It's been announced that Brandon Sutter ended up with a concussion after the hit on Saturday night.

And, Joni Pitkanen is out 3-4 weeks because he must have surgery to repair a meniscus.

*facepalm* This is not news I wanted to hear.

Dwight Helminen has been called up from Albany to replace Sutter. Next game is tomorrow.

Preseason's over!

Let's see here, what's happened in the past week?

Canes won twice against Nashville, finishing the preseason at a 3-3 record.

They also signed their first-round pick from this year's draft, Zach Boychuk, to an entry-level contract.

Scott Walker had surgery on his left hand, which was injured in his fight against Philly.

This opened up a roster spot for Dan LaCouture, who was signed to a two-way contract after a stellar training camp for the free agent tryout.

And the good news, we're already ahead in the Southeast Division, with the Lightning losing their both of their overseas openers to the Rangers!

Opening Night in less than four days!

And it's not even training camp yet...

Terrible news: Justin Williams will undergo surgery to repair a torn right Achilles' tendon. He will be out four to six months.

My goodness. This makes the announcement about Rod Brind'Amour yesterday seem like absolutely nothing.

I implore our remaining forwards to refrain from any strenuous activity, lest they be injured as well.

And I am so close to hitting the Panic Button on this season already. Not so much because of the loss of Williams (although, this is a big loss ), but because it does not bode well that the injury bug is striking so early, and with such efficiency.

Oh boy...

Rod Brind'Amour underwent knee surgery to remove torn cartilage.

Wow. An injury before the season even starts. That's promising.

Luckily, Rod is expected back before Opening Night. (23 Days!)

Good and Bad news

There's good news and bad news today injury-wise.

Bad news: Patrick Eaves is having shoulder surgery and will be out for 2-3 weeks.

Good news!: Chad LaRose has been activated from IR and will be eligible to play tonight!

That is such great news, I hope he can play! I've missed seeing him and his energy on the ice!

Bad news for Williams

Justin Williams is undergoing reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. He is expected to be out for 4-6 months. Months!

In the meantime, the Canes have called up Brandon Nolan from Albany.

Canes play tonight against Tampa.

Frank Kaberle, you are ON NOTICE!

You know what is just incredibly, incredibly stupid? Writing an essay - for a math class. That's right, in my Calculus class we have to write an essay - which doesn't even have to do with math. To put this in perspective, in my AP English class we haven't even had to write an essay yet. And here, on the second day of school, we're assigned an essay for calculus. I mean, COME ON! It's math! Who cares if we know how to write?

Speaking of rampant stupidity, having lunch at 10:45am is pretty stupid as well. I mean, COME ON! I eat breakfast at 10:00!

The last rather moronic point of today - Frank Kaberle is having surgery right before training camp - for the second year in a row! I mean I'm not calling him a moron (just his doctors) but COME ON! This is twice in a row that Kaberle has had a lingering injury that has needed surgery - right before the season starts. Last year it put him out for several months - luckily, this year it's only a few weeks. But the point remains - please, get your surgeries done early in the offseason! (Especially if you're in our rather shaky defensive corps...)