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The last time we'll post this overused file photo...*sniff.* File photo by Peggy Boone, IndyWeekBlogs
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The last time we'll post this overused file photo...*sniff.* File photo by Peggy Boone, IndyWeekBlogs
This isn't to say Brind'Amour's gone for good. Though he spoke wistfully of “the things you don't see on TV,” saying the camaraderie and sense of “brotherhood” were the things he'd miss more than the actual playing, Rutherford let him know he could stay on in any capacity he wanted. The ‘Canes GM said after Brind'Amour's wedding and honeymoon next week, they'll sit down and talk about what role he'll play next year, if any. Glen Wesley, who beat Brind'Amour to retirement, is helping out with the team's young defenseman…will Brind'Amour be on the ice any time soon?
One would assume that no matter what he does, his new office will be somewhere near the weight room.
“With my competitive nature, I'm probably going to do more than what they want me to do,” Brind'Amour said. “It might take a little while to figure out what that is. I'm open for everything.”
Samsonov is rumored to be on his way out. Whitney will test the free agency waters tomorrow. All that's left of the Hurricanes are the bare bones, the pieces they're looking to build on and a few with a little contract time left over, and Rutherford will have to fill out the rest tomorrow. Though he admittedly eschews free agency because often a team winds up paying too much, Rutherford's squad is looking a little thin. Unless he wants to pull up a lot of Charlotte Checkers (saying that will take some getting used to) or get to signing some RFAs, he'll need to keep his phone charger on his person over the next few days.
Right now, this team looks like a hot mess. Brind'Amour retiring honorably was a good step, as was drafting undersized, potentially underrated Jeff Skinner seventh overall a few days ago. But Rutherford has been here many times before, and over the next few days we'll see if we need to batten down the hatches for another year of lengthy losing streaks.