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JR to resign!

I just can't get those Ulf Samuelsson Subraru commercials out of my head anytime I hear his name (old Whalers fans on this board from the CT area will know what I'm talking about SOLD!!!!).
 
Anyone else think the only reason this news about JR stepping down came out now was in reaction to very lax season ticket renewals? Timing seems very suspect to me.
 
cmaleski2 said:
Anyone else think the only reason this news about JR stepping down came out now was in reaction to very lax season ticket renewals? Timing seems very suspect to me.
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yes, I do as well. since it hasnt formally been announced, then we dont have a true decision either.
 
For most STHs, I doubt the announcement regarding JR will have any effect whatsover. The hardcore hockey fans will likely stay on, but the fluctuation is nearly always based on the current season performance, or how much confidence you have that the Canes will be headed in the right direction. After 5 years of non-playoff hockey, I don't think anyone thinks we have "turned the corner" on this team. And I agree with previous posts that the most damning evidence against the Canes management is our poor draft history and lack of depth with prospects.
 
Put it this way ... you couldn't really do much more to alienate ME than you've done over the past 5-6 years and I still re-upped for next season just last week.

Doesn't mean I'm happy with the product ... it just means I'm a huge NHL fan and a Raleigh native that wants to continue to see NHL hockey in Raleigh whether the Hurricanes care to compete at that level or not.

And for the record ... I think Francis is a risk that you don't HAVE to take. I suspect he'd stick around in a 2nd banana role if offered the chance and I think ALL management/coaching hires should be as risk free as possible when you're this far down in the dumps. A front office guy with some positive experience in a management role with a team that has successfully rebuilt their core group ... that's not asking too much. Doesn't have to be an experienced GM, but it should be somebody with experience in going through the kind of building project that faces the Canes.
 
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totally agree JB.....Francis likes this area and I don't think he'll go anywhere. Like everyone else on this board, I'd like to see someone outside the family take a shot at this.
 
I think Buffalo getting Murray, Boston hiring Chiarelli, Montreal's Bergevin, and Toronto getting Nonis is how it is done. Guys who trained for years as number two's with organizations that had good success. Hell, even Yzerman, with his missteps, got trained under Holland and served as Team Canada GM before he went to Tampa. I want to think RF can get it done, build a successful franchise and hope that his creativity was just thwarted by JR and PK. My head tells me what we are really going to get is a pacifier, the shiny object to distract in the same way RF was the bone that tried to soothe the Mo rehire- JR retired/left, we gave you RF and you still aren't satisfied. If PK keeps the financial handcuffs on this organization, RF will be in the same uphill battle Nieuwendyk faced in Dallas.
 
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One of my favorite hockey reporters/pundits is Elliott Friedman from the CBC. He's connected, articulate and thinks the game of hockey. From his most recent column:

21. I always believed I had a better chance of dating Amy Adams than seeing Jim Rutherford trade Eric Staal. The best way to look at this is to wait and see how everything ends up in Carolina after the season. No doubt Staal is frustrated with missing the playoffs, but, unless either he or the team decides divorce is essential, they have a relationship worth preserving.

22. Interesting experiment: Staal is now playing left wing beside brother Jordan and Alex Semin. That's where he lined up when winning gold with Team Canada in 2010. Staal's got three points in three games. Is this his future?

23. It is extremely likely the Hurricanes are going to try and minimize their current contract responsibilities. The two names who stick out are Cam Ward (who has no-trade protection) and Jeff Skinner (who does not). If you ask other teams about Ward, they say they've been told he's healthy. But, he doesn't look like the confident 2006 Conn Smythe winner. Carolina's shown willingness to eat salary if necessary, so if Ward finishes strong, can that close a deal?

24. The other question: Can Anton Khudobin, who should have been arrested for grand larceny last week in Columbus, handle a number one workload? He's 28 and this is the first time he's played more than 14 NHL games in a season.

25. Skinner is intriguing. Last summer, Carolina dipped its toes in the market. It doesn't sound like they were incredibly serious; wanted to test his value. It's different now. You have to give up to get. If they trade him, my guess is we look at the deal and say, "OK, I understand."

26. The Hurricanes announced a six-year, $29-million US extension for Justin Faulk on Monday that starts at $2.5 million annually and rises to $6 million in covering the two seasons after he could have become an unrestricted free agent. They reached out to agent Brian Bartlett just before the Olympics but really worked on it last week. It's smart business. Faulk (and Bartlett) give Carolina a break now when the organization has some long-term, big-money commitments. The team locks him in at what should be a very reasonable number, especially if he keeps improving as expected.

27. Fans always ask if there is no-trade protection. Faulk is not eligible for it until the final two years of the extension. There is some protection -- he can submit a list. To me, this is best for both player and club.
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http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/ho...fs-reimer-should-follow-cammalleris-lead.html
 
On the Staal, Staal, Semin experiment.....I personally hate it. I don't think the Canes have the depth or luxury of investing that much money into a single line. Assuming no trades, between Staal, Staal, Skinner, and Semin you should be able to mix in the appropriate young player (Lindholm) or roles players to have two effective lines that are capable of producing true top 6 numbers. If you want to play both Staals and Semin at key moments in games when you need a goal I am fine with that, but a regular line makes no sense to me given their payroll and team's overall depth.

The other comment by Friedman I still don't get is trading Skinner. He is too young and talented to give up on....yet. At least wait and see what he can do with a new coach and system. The return would have to be huge but the reality of taking Skinner off this team without replacing him with another true offensive threat will be a Hurricanes team that struggles even more to score goals next year.

It makes more sense to me to try and trade Eric Staal for a young top line forward (hello Edmonton) and some other prospects and picks to build organizational depth and a future. I would much rather trade Eric than Skinner at this point.
 
I'll believe it (JR stepping down) when I see it. The timing of the speculative story coincides perfectly with ticket sales. What a mess. The entire organization needs an enema.
 
TheBigKahuna said:
I'll believe it (JR stepping down) when I see it. The timing of the speculative story coincides perfectly with ticket sales. What a mess. The entire organization needs an enema.
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I've been told that the only issue on the table is what Jimmy's role will be going forward. He's definitely stepping down as GM, but will most likely remain as President and Governor.
 
jeffbear said:
I've been told that the only issue on the table is what Jimmy's role will be going forward. He's definitely stepping down as GM, but will most likely remain as President and Governor.
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That's really the only thing he could do to stay with the team. He wasn't listed on the team directory as the Alternate Governor, that was CFO Mike Amendola. I can't imagine PK giving up the Governor role though.
 
TheBigKahuna said:
I'll believe it (JR stepping down) when I see it. The timing of the speculative story coincides perfectly with ticket sales. What a mess. The entire organization needs an enema.
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On the surface it does kind of look that way...but the Luke DeCock article this morning kind of cements the fact that JR is stepping aside from the day to day GM role and responsibilities.

Personally, I dont see how this team sells any season ticket sales right about now without wide spread change. Well...outside of Jeffbear and a few others...
 
I know one person that renewed and many that haven't. The ratio is in favor of not renewing.
 
CanadaCanes said:
On the surface it does kind of look that way...but the Luke DeCock article this morning kind of cements the fact that JR is stepping aside from the day to day GM role and responsibilities.

Personally, I dont see how this team sells any season ticket sales right about now without wide spread change. Well...outside of Jeffbear and a few others...
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Wasn't Lafontaine president of the Sabres when he quit over the trading of Miller as he was against it and wanted to resign him?
 
Kind of silly not to trade Ryan Miller considering the return they got back in the trade. If they want to re-sign him so badly and he wants to play more in Buffalo then they can get a new contract done in the offseason. That trade didn't automatically mean Ryan Miller's career in Buffalo is over.
 
andyt said:
That's really the only thing he could do to stay with the team. He wasn't listed on the team directory as the Alternate Governor, that was CFO Mike Amendola. I can't imagine PK giving up the Governor role though.
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Mis-type on my part ... meant to say Pres and Alt Gov. Amendola's the money man anyway. I doubt he minds giving up a largely ceremonial title.
 
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