I want to start off this post with apologizing for my absence. It’s been a hectic couple of months for me, but it seems to be calming down…or at least for today anyway.

Next order of business..that picture of AO at the top of faceoff circle is disturbing to me. That is all.

Now onto the ‘Canes.

What an up and down story they have been in the last few months. First on the player front. JR traded Craig Adams to Chicago for “future considerations” aka: 2009 pick. Adams hadn’t had much production here and because we were so full on the forward front, especially with 4th liners, Adams just was getting pushed out of the picture. JR is the type of GM who, if he has a good player who just isn’t getting the time he deserves, he will move him so that the player can have a chance to go to a club that he can make a difference in.

Then we had the Sergei Samsonov pickup (which actually came before the C. Adams move) made a few of us nervous. He hadn’t put up any goals in the games he played in Chicago and he was picked up after Justin Williams had gone down with a torn ACL. Samsonov came here and showed the player he can be. He has put up 6 goals and gotten several assists and just flourishes with whoever he plays with.

The big move came just recently. I must say that it wasn’t really a surprise to me when it happened but many in the Caniac nation were completely taken aback. Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore went to Ottawa for Patrick Eaves and Joe Corvo. Stillman and Commie are impending UFAs after this season is over and neither had been stellar for us as of late. Commie had only really been great at taking penalties at crucial times..perhaps he had forgotten our PK is 30th in the league?!? Not to mention I think that at the end of the day, he would be the guy to test the FA market after this season. Stillman had slowed down production as of late, but he obviously had to waive his NTC to be traded so I am guessing he wanted another chance at the Cup. I couldn’t be more excited at who we got in return. I had actually yelled to Corvo to ask to be traded here when the Sens were in in NC back in December. He is the offensive defenseman that we have been looking for since Frank Kaberle forgot who he was. Patrick Eaves is a young guy who can bring energy and production when he is healthy. As far as I am concerned this was a move for now AND for the future, which is the type of move JR needed to make this season.

Last night the Canes got their win streak to 3 games, for the first time since October. This is important because we have many important players out. Tanabe, LaRose, Brind’amour, and Williams won’t be wearing a Canes sweater for the rest of the season. Seidenberg and Hedican are both struggling with injury. We have a few AHLers filling in (Bayda, Aucoin, Borer, and Conboy) and our new “enforcer” Brookbank has done his job as well as putting up points.

The Canes have just 21 games left. We have to win the majority of the games if we want to take the SE and make the playoffs. If we play hockey like we’ve seen in the last 3 games I think we can do it. Only time will tell.

Go Canes!