Canes acquiring a new face to replace LaRose

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Source: News and Observer

Erik Cole's flirtation with free agency proved to be brief.

Cole officially went on the NHL's open market as an unrestricted free agent at noon Wednesday. Less than four hours later, the power forward signed a new, two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes that pays him $2.8 million next season and $3 million in the 2010-11 season.

But while the Canes quickly were able to reach an agreement with Cole, general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday night that unrestricted free-agent forward Chad LaRose likely would sign with another team.

Rutherford said he had been in discussions with LaRose's agent, Patrick Morris, throughout the day. At one point Wednesday afternoon, there was optimism in the Hurricanes' front office that LaRose might accept a new three-year contract.

"It's not going to happen," Rutherford said later. "I informed [Morris] that we had another deal we were working on, that I was giving him a courtesy call. He said he would run everything by Chad and call back in an hour. I waited, but they never called back.

"Obviously, they have a deal somewhere else. So we're working on signing another free agent. It's time to move on."

Rutherford would not say which free agent the Canes might be considering.

Things moved quickly with Cole, though.

"Erik did exactly what he said he would do," Rutherford said. "He wanted to test the market to see if any teams were interested. But Erik did not want to leave. It played out the way it should."

Cole signed a three-year contract with the Canes in July 2006 that paid him $4 million a year. Traded to the Edmonton Oilers after the 2007-08 season for defenseman Joni Pitkanen, he was brought back to the Canes in a deal finalized late on the March 4 deadline.

Cole had 15 points -- two goals, 13 assists -- in Carolina's last 17 regular-season games, helping the Canes surge into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But his negotiating leverage diminished in the playoffs as he failed to score in 18 games.

"We told [the Canes] we would come back for less than Erik might get on the open market, but we wanted what was fair," Cole's agent, Steve Bartlett of Sports Consulting Group, said Wednesday. "We told Jim [Rutherford] we would not drag this out ... but we did want to make an informed decision.

"It's important for a professional athlete to make money, but it's also important to be with a team and among people you want to be with. Erik's excited. He's got a Hurricane [logo] tattooed somewhere on his body."

It was another hectic free-agent signing day elsewhere in the NHL -- "Canada Day" in the country up north. The Vancouver Canucks came to terms with twin forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin signed with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Canes stayed busy, as well. Though Cole and LaRose were the top priorities, free-agent forwards Michael Ryan and Patrick Dwyer agreed to new two-way contracts Wednesday.

Dwyer, 25, made his NHL debut with the Canes last year and played 13 games during his three recalls from the Albany River Rats, Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate. Dwyer also appeared in two Stanley Cup playoff games, recording one assist.

Ryan, 29, played in 18 games for the Canes and had two assists while averaging 8:12 of ice time. He led the River Rats with 25 goals while playing just 40 of the team's 80 regular-season games.

Rutherford said Dwyer, a capable penalty killer, and Ryan "add important depth to our organization."

The Canes have two other unrestricted free agents -- defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and forward Ryan Bayda. Rutherford has said the team would not re-sign Seidenberg, whose market value could be well above the $1.2 million he was paid last year. Bayda has been offered a two-way contract and could return.

Rutherford said Wednesday that re-signing defenseman Anton Babchuk, a restricted free agent, would be "an issue that takes some time to settle."

Babchuk played last season with a one-year, $1 million contract.

He has been given a $1 million qualifying offer by the Hurricanes and has no arbitration rights -- Babchuk left to play in Russia in the 2007-08 season while under contract.

"We've been told Anton will not play for the qualifier," Rutherford said.

Babchuk has three options at this point. He can accept Carolina's offer, return to Russia or be traded by the Hurricanes.

[RedMage138]

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Chad LaRose on a two-year contract. The deal will pay LaRose $1.5 million in 2009-10 and $1.9 million in 2010-11.

“Chad has grown into a key player for our franchise,” said Rutherford. “He had his best year last season and is an important penalty killer and popular player in our locker room and with our fans.”

LaRose, 27, established career highs in games played (81), goals (19) and points (31), and matched his career-best in assists (12) in 2008-09. The Fraser, MI, native ranked tied for first among Hurricanes skaters in shorthanded goals (2), and was second in shorthanded points (4), fifth in total goals (19) and sixth in plus/minus (+6). During the Stanley Cup playoffs, LaRose (5’10”, 181 lbs.) ranked tied for second on the team in scoring (11 points) and third on the team in assists (7), skating in all 18 of Carolina’s postseason contests.

Originally signed by the Hurricanes as an undrafted free agent in August 2003, LaRose has totaled 37 goals and 48 assists (85 points) and 126 penalty minutes in 268 career NHL games with the Hurricanes. In 39 career playoff games, he has tallied 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists), capturing the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I wonder who else they were looking at and who they still may be looking at.

[dexterpyro]

We will definatley need a Defensemen.....Babchuk wont be coming back and it is unlikely that Seidenberg will resign.....

Glad to Have Larose back.......Him and Whitney are the best and toughest "little" guys in the league

[Peppa Jack Supreme]

Getting Chad back is much bigger than re-signing Cole. Sidenburg is a goner but Im pretty sure that Babchuk is coming back. Nobody else is going to take a chance on a spoiled little baby.

[RedMage138]

Babchuck may end up in Russia again because his agent already told JR he won't play for the qualifying offer

[carpanfan96]

Yea I expect Babchuck to go back to Russia. Just opens the team for another youngster to be brought up or a FA pickup to come in and take his spot.

[Peppa Jack Supreme]

Babchuk as made the mistake of going back to Russia once already. I dont think he will do it again. I read an interview with him this season about how bad it was playing over there. He now has a second season in the NHL to compare with playing his last in Russia, he likes having planes to travel on and not buses. Staying at nice hotels in every city instead nasty rundown places in Russia. Plus, I doubt he is going to get more money there than he is here.