CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS February 18, 2019 - NHL.com
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CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
Bunch of jerks? Not the Hurricanes having fun
By Chip Alexander -- Petr Mrazek is a small goalie but so athletic. Some of the
saves the goalie made Saturday in his third shutout of the
So who’s the jerk here? season were simply terrific. That’s a game where the Stars
The Carolina Hurricanes have attracted a lot of attention with coaches will watch the video and be shaking their heads.
their postgame palooza after wins at PNC Arena. On Friday, Kind of like Brind’Amour did after some games earlier in the
after a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, Warren Foegele season when the Canes made so many opposing goalies
connected on a “walkoff homer” off Dougie Hamilton that looked like Vezina candidates.
touched off a wild celebration at “home plate” with his -- The back-to-back games in net by McElhinney and Mrazek
teammates after he touched all the “bases.” -- 74 shots faced, 73 saves -- may have been the Canes’
That also touched off a diatribe from Don Cherry, the best of the season. The Oilers and Stars have some scary
bombastic one on Hockey Night in Canada and the Craig good high-end skill but the goalies stood tall. With some
Sager wanna-be with his fluorescent haberdashery. Cherry, help, of course.
never at a loss for words, called the Canes a “bunch of jerks” -- Nino. That is all. The numbers: 13 games with Carolina, 13
and criticized coach Rod Brind’Amour, who he called a points.
“straight shooter,” and captain Justin Williams for letting it go
on. -- The Canes need a little more from Andrei Svechnikov. This
would be a good time to get it. Only 18, and he’s still learning
About the only thing Cherry got right was when he said, “This and developing at this level. But to reach the playoffs ...
is the National Hockey League.” The rest was nonsense. To
each their own. On with the show. Let the fun continue and -- Trevor van Riemsdyk is quietly putting together a pretty
the fans stay in their seats after games, wondering what’s solid season, with little fanfare. The D-man isn’t flashy but is
next. reliable.
“Bunch of jerks” -- which the Canes already have on new T- -- Once one of the NHL’s best faceoff guys, Brind’Amour
shirts ready for sale -- may be their rallying cry and a knows the importance of winning draws and having puck
marketing catchphrase the rest of the season. possession. The Canes were 19-36 against the Stars and
Sebastian Aho lost 10 of 12 draws. Jordan Staal’s return will
Some observations from the 3-0 win Saturday over Dallas: ease that concern by the head coach.
-- Which was the more important acquisition by the Canes, -- It’s worth saying again: There are going to be a lot of mad
Curtis McElhinney or Nino Niederreiter? Both are huge, Canes fans if management deals Micheal Ferland before the
obviously, but McElhinney was a waiver-wire pickup before trade deadline. Just saying.
the season opener after Scott Darling went down with an
injury.
A worthy cause, a bunch of jerks and a welcome reminder that the hockey world has your
back
By Sara Civian Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said these games aren’t
harder to play, anyway, and that the idea is a “myth people
There was something in the air at PNC Arena on Saturday made up.” With an 8-3-1 record in back-to-backs, maybe it’s
night as the surging Hurricanes beat the Dallas Stars, 3-0. time to start listening to him.
I’d heard whispers of how intense the place can get since I I’m not saying 100 million people were there to witness the
first took the job covering the Canes, and the whispers have NHL team with the most wins (16) and most goals (82) since
only been getting louder. I still didn’t expect to get a sampling New Year’s Eve keep winning. I am saying the right people
so soon — certainly not on the tail end of a back to back. were.
“Just wait ’till the playoffs,” people (no, not just Southerners) Just ask goaltender Petr Mrazek, who was pounding his
keep saying. “You have never seen anything like it.” chest like a Wolf of Wall Street character during his shutout.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
“The fans were great today,” he told me, unprompted. “They “In our house, everything was about acceptance. No racial
always push you to be better.” humour tolerated, no jokes about gay people, no jokes about
handicapped people. It was all ‘Everyone is worth your time,
It’d been that way since puck drop, honestly, but it peaked everyone has dignity, everyone deserves your respect,'”
with one minute left in regulation. Burke told CBC in retrospect. “And so, when my son said,
“Bunch of jerks! Bunch of jerks! Bunch of jerks!” ‘dad, I’m gay,’ the best thing was, (that I) don’t have to take
anything back. I don’t have to apologize for anything, I don’t
The crowd was screaming what “Hockey Night In Canada” have to rebuild any bridge, and that’s what I tell parents and
commentator and former player Don Cherry called the Canes to the kids who are battling with coming out. It does get
earlier that day. better, there is a support group, and you’re entitled to live
“This is the National Hockey League. These guys, to me, are your life.”
jerks. They’re still not drawing (fans). I’ll tell you one thing, He was the GM of the Maple Leafs during that interview,
they better not do this in the playoffs,” he said. “That is delivering that message in the hub of hockey.
absolutely ridiculous. I know all the broadcasters are afraid to
say something … I know what I’m talking about. You never “A gay player is welcome here,” he said.
do anything like that. They’re still not drawing. They’re still a I remember how heartbroken our community was when
bunch of jerks, as far as I’m concerned.” Brendan passed away at 21 years old on Feb. 5, 2010, en
Cherry’s unverified attendance claims aside, it’s funny how route to a college hockey game.
the narrative around the Storm Surge has changed from Burke, his son, Patrick, and others channeled that
“they’re not good enough to do this” and “they aren’t working heartbreak into You Can Play, a project “dedicated to
hard enough to do this” to “they better not do this in the ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without
playoffs.” regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity.”
As the Canes secured the win that put them in a playoff spot (That’s the project partnered with pride tape, by the way.
for the night (it’s a tight race), their fans were having a blast Patrick commends Hurricanes ambassador Trevor van
with the “bunch of jerks” comment. The marketing team has Riemsdyk and older brother James for being part of the
been on fire all season, so of course they read the room and movement from the start.)
changed the Hurricanes’ Twitter bio to “The bunch of jerks
with the fun celebrations.” It would be funny if Canes fans send the “Bunch of Jerks”
shirts to Cherry’s office, for sure. But this seems like more of
They’ve already created “Bunch of Jerks” T-shirts that keep a “kill ’em with kindness” crowd, and I wondered if they knew
selling out. about the real Brian Burke.
As social media was abuzz about those Sunday night, and Patrick Burke noticed donations from people named “Canes
as Canes fans were (delightfully) lighting up my Twitter fan” and “Bunch of jerks” flowing in, so we made a deal.
mentions with jabs at Cherry and Brian Burke, I knew it was
time to come clean. Patrick M. (@generationxwing) covered it in EIGHT minutes.
And the donations keep pouring in.
Brian Burke is the former GM of the Hartford Whalers, a man
notorious for doing away with the beloved “Brass Bonanza” When I look back on this Hurricanes season, I’m starting to
goal song. think I won’t even remember if they make the playoffs or not
— as important as it obviously is.
Brian Burke was the first hockey broadcaster to criticize the
Hurricanes for the Storm Surge. He wasn’t remotely as harsh I’ll remember all the videos of the tiny, new hockey fans
as Cherry, but he did call it “absurdly amateurish, pee-wee glued to their TVs, clapping along to the Storm Surge. I’ll
garbage stuff.” remember that Brind’Amour’s own little one, Brooks, likes the
kayak surge the best.
Brian Burke also is an outstanding ally and a proud father. I
would know — his kids grew up in my hometown of Canton, I will remember not even being able to conduct an interview
Massachusetts. because “Stacy’s Mom” was blasting so loud, and how these
moments are creating a culture much more sustainable than
When you think of Brian Burke, you think of a fun-hating a first-round exit.
dinosaur. There might be some truth to that.
I will never, ever forget the time Hurricanes fans sent
When I think of Burke, though, I remember how openly thousands of dollars and counting to their favorite fun-hating
accepting he was when his son, Brendan, came out to the dinosaur. Talk about drawing a crowd.
public in 2009.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
Six trades that would deliver the missing piece to Stanley Cup contenders
By Scott Burnside Easier said than done.
To understand the understated brilliance of the Michal The Capitals’ pro scouting staff began scouring the league at
Kempny trade deadline addition to the Capitals you have to the start of last season.
first understand the excessive disappointment that was the
Kevin Shattenkirk trade deadline add. The challenge was hampered by the Capitals’ limited salary
cap space and the fact they wanted a left-handed shot to
Maybe one doesn’t happen without the other. play alongside John Carlson.
Maybe the Capitals are still looking for their first Stanley Cup Orpik was paired with Carlson for most of the first half of the
if they don’t first add the skilled, highly-coveted Shattenkirk at season but that wasn’t a great fit given that Orpik was better
the 2017 trade deadline and then 344 days later add the suited for the anchor role on a third pair and the Caps
barely coveted Kempny. wanted someone who could skate to play with Carlson.
They are the yin and yang of the Capitals’ playoff fortunes, Washington’s scouts identified Kempny, an undrafted
and they are the cautionary tales that keep NHL GMs up at defenseman out of the Czech Republic, as a possibility. He
night. was in and out of the Chicago lineup, as the Blackhawks
flirted with and then fell out of the playoff race in the Western
Shattenkirk was coming to the end of his contract in St. Conference.
Louis. He was a swift-skating, highly intelligent defenseman
whose presence on the trade market had the hockey world One week before the Feb. 26 trade deadline, the Capitals
atwitter. And with good reason. Shattenkirk had 42 points in sent a third-round pick to Chicago and Kempny stepped into
61 games at the time of the deal, which gave the Blues a a top-four role, playing mostly with Carlson. That allowed
first-round draft pick (that became Morgan Frost) and Orpik to slot into a third pairing with rookie Christian Djoos,
prospect Zach Sanford. and for Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen to settle in as the
middle pair in the Caps’ defensive structure.
Shattenkirk was a bona fide star and he made Washington,
en route to a Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular Through the stretch run and into the playoffs the Capitals
season team, the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup. became a different team, defensively more sound, efficient
and ultimately much more difficult to play against.
And it didn’t work.
They would survive a first-round scare against Columbus,
Not at all. vanquish Pittsburgh in six games and upend favored Tampa
Shattenkirk did help the Capitals’ power play, which was a in the Eastern Conference final before ousting Vegas in five
big part of the reason for his addition. And he did collect 14 games in the final.
points in 19 regular season games to even further whet the “It was a year-long process,” MacLellan said. “We were
appetite of Cup-hungry fans in Washington. But in the missing one piece for most of the year.”
playoffs things more or less fell apart. Shattenkirk’s addition
meant another smart, smooth-skating defender, Nate It’s not like Kempny became a Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Schmidt, couldn’t find his way into the lineup on a regular
basis because the coaching staff under Barry Trotz was loath But when it mattered most Kempny became what every GM
to bench either Brooks Orpik or Karl Alzner because of their is looking for at the trade deadline, the perfect fit on a team
physicality and experience. Meanwhile, Shattenkirk struggled that, as it turned out, needed that one particular piece to
defensively and ended up being a third-pair defender in the make the puzzle complete. It just turned out the piece was
postseason. much smaller than anyone had anticipated.
The Capitals squeaked by Toronto in an exciting first-round “We needed a speed guy there,” MacLellan said of the fit
series and then were bounced in seven games by arch-rival with Carlson. “Kempny needed Carly and Carly needed
Pittsburgh in the second round. Shattenkirk ended up with a Kempny. They complimented each other perfectly.”
modest six points in 13 games. The element of fit was the biggest lesson McLellan said he
Less than two months later he signed a four-year deal with learned at the deadline.
his hometown Rangers, and the Capitals were left to wonder At a time when so many are clamoring for a GM to “do
yet again what had become of arguably their most talented something,” MacLellan and the Capitals discovered that
team ever. “doing something” is a relative thing, that finding that
With Alzner departing Washington as an unrestricted free complimentary piece is often more critical than finding that
agent and Schmidt off to Vegas in the expansion draft, the profile piece.
Capitals were on the hunt for someone to fill the void before “It’s a good lesson,” conceded MacLellan.
the 2017-18 season.
Where will this lesson be taught at this trade deadline? With
Specifically, Washington GM Brian MacLellan began so many high profile players like Artemi Panarin, Matt
searching early on for a “skater/defender” type of Duchene, Mark Stone and Wayne Simmonds expected to
defenseman. move, is there a Michal Kempny in a team’s future?
“That was our mandate,” he said.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
Here’s a look at some players who might fit this bill and The Penguins looked like a good fit but with the addition of
where they could possibly be the missing piece. Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad that likely isn’t going to be
a fit. Boston needs to add a player who can play in the top
Kevin Hayes to Winnipeg Jets six to keep pace with high-flying Toronto and Tampa in the
It’s never really come together in the way that anyone Atlantic Division. Ferland would fit nicely with the Bruins’
imagined for the 6-foot-5 Hayes, who was selected 24th style of play under Bruce Cassidy and should come at a
overall by the Rangers in 2010 after a standout finish to his price less than what Simmonds will command. Boston’s
career at Boston College. He struck for a career-high 25 needs are especially pronounced now with David Pastrnak,
goals last season as the Rangers began to rebuild in the team’s leading scorer, out for at least two weeks after
earnest. It looks like that rebuild will continue without Hayes, needing surgery to repair a thumb injury sustained at a team
26, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and event. When Pastrnak returns the Bruins would like to have a
looks to be headed out the door in the coming days. Scouts winger who could play with David Krejci, and Ferland fits that
and NHL executives are enticed by his size, his two-way bill.
game and the potential impact he’s going to have with a Jimmy Howard to Vegas Golden Knights
contender somewhere.
Maybe this year Detroit GM Ken Holland takes it easy on
“I love Kevin Hayes,” one executive said recently. “The kid Vegas GM George McPhee after snagging a first, second
can pass the puck.” He wondered aloud at a possible fit in and third-round draft pick for Tomas Tatar last trade
Winnipeg, suggesting that Hayes’ presence would make the deadline, after which Tatar was a healthy scratch for much of
Jets’ power play, already a top five unit, “really tough to the playoffs. But we digress. The Golden Knights have
stop.” shaken off a middling start to return to the thick of the Pacific
Another longtime scout and former player said he is Division playoff race. They should be a handful once again
impressed with Hayes’ determination and how rookie coach come mid-April but only if Marc-Andre Fleury is Fleury-like,
David Quinn relies on him in critical situations, taking and which means he needs to get some relief. Backup Malcolm
more often than not winning critical draws in the final minutes Subban has managed to secure just three wins this season,
of periods and games. “He’s been strong on pucks,” the so that’s not getting it done. Fleury is having a Vezina-type
scout said. “He’s built for the playoffs.” season but the 34-year-old three-time Stanley Cup winner
needs some relief and the veteran Howard is that kind of
A year ago the Jets acquired Paul Stastny (for prospect Erik guy. Cam Talbot, sent to the Flyers, was a more economical
Foley, a conditional first-round pick and a conditional fourth- option, but that’s because he doesn’t have as big an up-side.
round pick) and his veteran presence was a calming factor
as they advanced to a Western Conference final. That Now the Wings are making noise that Howard, set to
veteran experience isn’t quite as critical this season and the become an unrestricted free agent, will cost big – as in first-
asking price for Hayes won’t be as high, which makes this a round pick big. But that’s not going to happen even if Howard
potential fit for a Jets team that has lots of salary cap issues has remade himself over the past couple of seasons under
coming up in the offseason. If not Winnipeg, Hayes could be goaltending coach Jeff Salajko and has been one of Detroit’s
a fit in Dallas or Columbus. few bright spots on a bad team.
Micheal Ferland to Boston Bruins Vegas has a ton of draft picks and young assets without
disrupting the team’s long-term plans. One longtime analyst
It’s likely that lots more hockey folk know about Ferland now and former NHLer argued that because Fleury is so good
than did at the start of last offseason. First he was part of a you only need a Plan B for maybe 10 games so it might
blockbuster trade between Calgary and Carolina. Then the make more sense to bring in a Keith Kincaid, who is also on
power forward made an instant impact in Carolina, bringing an expiring contract in New Jersey, but what if you need to
toughness and good puck sense. Now he’s being considered win eight of those 10 games to earn home-ice advantage?
by multiple teams as we approach the Feb. 25 trade deadline And what if Fleury gets hurt? Howard gives you a better
with the pending unrestricted free agent not currently a fit in chance at sneaking through a round than any of the other
Carolina’s long-term plans goaltending options available. If not Vegas, how about
Not surprising given the style with which he plays, Ferland Pittsburgh where Matt Murray has struggled with injuries and
has had some injury issues. A source familiar with the team consistency?
said his physicality “comes and goes” so there is that to Derick Brassard to Dallas Stars
consider. There is also the presence of Simmonds in the
marketplace, a player who brings the same attractive blend Coming to the end of his contract, the 31-year-old Brassard
of skill and toughness. While Ferland, 26, is four years will only command a third-round pick or something along
younger, Simmonds has a more attractive pedigree. One those lines, but it would be something to put in the bank for
scout thought Simmonds has lost a step but also wondered if the Panthers, who acquired Brassard and Riley Sheahan
Ferland is better suited as a bottom-six forward. from Pittsburgh, as they look to clear some salary for what is
expected to be an active offseason for the perennially
The upside to Ferland is that he has played with high-end underachieving South Florida team.
talent, first in Calgary with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean
Monahan and then in Carolina with Sebastian Aho. Eleven of As for Brassard, he will have lots of interest before the
Ferland’s 33 points through 50 games have come on the deadline in part because there are so few centers that
power play, including six power play goals. appear to be in play. The sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft,
Brassard never quite made good on the high expectations
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
that accompanied him to the NHL and his time in Pittsburgh Ozk, this is a bit of a pet project. Kovalchuk doesn’t have to
was likewise uninspiring, a function of playing behind Sidney go anywhere he doesn’t want to go thanks to a no-move, no-
Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. But Brassard has 90 playoff trade clause that came with his whopper three-year deal
games under his belt and 59 points, not insignificant, which from the Kings this past offseason. And the fact is his $6.25-
is why he would be attractive to a Dallas team that has million cap hit acts as its own no-move clause. But there are
missed the playoffs eight of the past 10 years and is thin hints that maybe Kovalchuk wouldn’t mind a quick change of
down the middle. scenery because he couldn’t have imagined that his return to
the NHL after five seasons in the KHL would be such a tire
Worth noting is that Brassard has 19 power play points in the fire. At 35 he’s got to be looking at whether things are going
playoffs and the Stars could use some help with the man to get better before he ages out in Los Angeles, and the
advantage. Is Brassard the kind of guy who can finally coax answer is not likely. Now, interim coach Willie Desjardins
some regular offense out of the middle of a Stars lineup that won’t be around next season, so maybe Kovalchuk waits it
has leaned too heavily on Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and out to see if things get better in Year Two, but this is a guy
Alexander Radulov? Seems like a good bet, although one who’s played in just 32 playoff games and 23 of those were
source close to the team wondered if addressing the team’s in 2012 when he was a member of the Devils and Lou
center issues might be an offseason task given that GM Jim Lamoriello was the GM.
Nill was silent at the trade deadline a year ago, but it is
doubtful he will do the same this year. Now Lamoriello is the GM of the surprising Islanders, who
have become defensively aware but still need to add scoring
Mats Zuccarello to Calgary Flames if they’re going to compete with the Penguins and Capitals
Zuccarello has struggled through the dismantling of the come April. Specifically, they need to bolster a power play
Rangers over the past couple of seasons and admitted the that is a bottom-third unit. And while the Kings have been a
burden of an uncertain future weighs on him. But playing with mess for most of the season, Kovalchuk started well before
Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider lately, Zuccarello reverted being demoted, finally benched by Desjardins and then
back to form at a time when interest in him from other teams suffered an ankle injury. We’re guessing Kovalchuk has Alex
will continue to rise. Ovechkin’s cell phone number if he wants to get any intel on
Islanders coach Barry Trotz, whom we know gets rave
One scout likes him as a terrific top nine/top six add for a reviews from Ovechkin.
contending team because he won’t cost much – a third-round
pick and a B prospect, the scout hypothesized – but will bring The Kings would have to eat a chunk of Kovalchuk’s salary
a significant impact. “He’s got a great stick, he competes on but GM Rob Blake has to make significant changes to get
puck,” the scout said. “I’m a big fan of that kid.” He may not younger and faster, and he has to do it quickly. Even if the
play with as much pace as he once did, but on a team like Isles don’t have to send much back to acquire Kovalchuk,
Calgary where he doesn’t have to be the man, Zuccarello not everyone loves the idea. One NHL executive said he
could be the kind of guy that pumps up a second or third line thought Kovalchuk looked disinterested and unengaged, but
and adds some zest to the power play. The Flames might that could be said of anyone playing for the Kings these
have been looking at the potential of repatriating Ferland, but days, and in the end, if it’s just about money, why not take a
Zuccarello has grit to his game in spite of his diminutive size. chance on one of the game’s great offensive forces?
Ilya Kovalchuk to New York Islanders
DGB weekend power rankings: A dozen deadline week predictions
By Sean McIndoe deadline day and another 16 the week before. Last year, the
numbers dropped slightly, with 18 deals on deadline day and
One week to go. 12 in the week leading up to it. (All totals are from the various
We’re just seven days away from the trade deadline, and NHL.com trade tracker pages.)
historically, this is when things really start to get busy. Fans So in terms of the number of deals made, last year was
love to talk about deadline day, and that’s still the main quieter than a typical recent deadline, both on deadline day
attraction. This time next week, we’ll all be fake-coughing our and in the week before. That could be a blip or the start of a
way through calling in sick to work and settling in to watch trend. And if it’s the latter, we might expect that this week is
the various deadline day shows struggle to fill airtime until relatively quiet too.
the flood gates open. It’s always a fun day.
But something else stands out. In 2016, almost all of the
But in recent years, the process has evolved to the point action came in that final week; there were just four trades
where we should really be referring to deadline week. We made around the league in the rest of February. In 2017,
typically see almost as many trades during the week-long there were five. But last year, there were nine. Again, maybe
lead up to the deadline as we do on the day itself. And that that’s a blip. But it suggests GMs weren’t actually that much
means the wait is pretty much over. It’s go time. quieter last year after all — they were simply getting their
Let’s crunch some numbers. In 2016, there were 21 trades deals done earlier.
on deadline day and 16 more in the week leading up to it. So what about this year? It looks a lot like last year. We’ve
The 2017 deadline was nearly identical, with 23 deals on already had eleven February trades. And that’s not counting
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
the unusually busy January, which we talked about at the games scheduled there, and they’ll play the first round of the
time. Back then, we wondered if the flurry of moves might playoffs at Nassau Coliseum. They’d be back at Barclays for
predict a busy February. And in a sense, it already has, with the second round, though, meaning Islander fans are in the
more trades than usual over the last 17 days. But does that weird position of hoping to get a return to an arena they all
many deals already being done mean we’re now in for a hate.
quiet final week?
As for the prediction, I admit that I love the theory that Lou
There are a few reasons to think we might be. The most Lamoriello will go out and land Panarin. It makes more sense
obvious is the standings – the Western turtle derby has than most of the other Panarin rumors.
resulted in a scenario where virtually the entire conference is
still in the race, or at least close enough to it that a delusional But as much as I’d love to make that my prediction, I don’t
GM could try to talk himself into it. Thankfully, it doesn’t think it happens. The hurdle is the Blue Jackets, who we’re
sound like teams like the Kings and Ducks will make that told still want to make a playoff run. Would they really send
mistake. But if the rest of the conference still thinks they Panarin to a team they have a good chance of facing in
have a shot, there may not be enough sellers to support a Round 1? Maybe, but I can’t see it. So instead, let’s pencil
busy market. Lou and the Islanders in for a consolation prize from among
the lesser names. Maybe Gustav Nyquist?
This year’s deadline also feels somewhat unique, in the
sense that there are at least three or four players on the 4. Winnipeg Jets (36-19-4, +30) – The schedule served up
block who would be considered major stars who are still in three winnable games, but the Jets only came away with
their prime. Artemi Panarin, Mark Stone, Sergei Bobrovsky three points. They didn’t lose any Central ground to the
and Matt Duchene are bigger prizes than what we usually struggling Predators, but it was a missed opportunity to build
see available at the deadline. But they’re also the kind of a cushion. And now that Jordan Binnington and the Blues
names who could cause other teams to play wait-and-see. are unbeatable, the division no longer feels like a two-team
Are you really going to settle for Micheal Ferland as your big race.
deadline acquisition if there’s a chance you could get Stone Prediction: Given their roster and cap situation, the Jets
or Panarin? Maybe, but not until the last minute. should be all-in on the biggest rentals. I’m with Murat Ates
The good news, at least for fans who want to see some when he identifies Mark Stone as their best fit. It will cost a
action, is that the last minute is almost here. And maybe I’m ton, but I think they might get him.
an optimist, but I don’t think we’re in for an especially quiet 3. Calgary Flames (35-16-7, +42) – Man, they needed that
week. The situations in Columbus and Ottawa should come win in Pittsburgh on Saturday. But their four-game losing
to a head soon, one way or another, and most of those streak ate up all of their Pacific lead, so the sense of urgency
Western wannabes are one or two more losses away from should be high.
having no choice but to get real. The dam isn’t exactly going
to burst, because it’s already been leaking steadily for What does that mean for the deadline? The Flames are
weeks. But it’s probably not going to hold for much longer. another team that would make a ton of sense for Stone, but I
think the Jets could outbid them. Instead, let’s slot the
So this week, let’s do the regular top and bottom five Flames in for something with the Rangers. Mats Zuccarello
rankings. But we’ll mix in a prediction for each of those could make sense.
teams along the way. Will I be right about any one them?
Probably not, but that hasn’t stopped me before, so let’s do 2. San Jose Sharks (35-17-7, +33) – Oh good, Erik Karlsson
this. is back. About time this team caught a break.
Road to the Cup The Sharks don’t seem likely to be in on the big deadline
names. They’re tight against the cap, don’t have a first-round
The five teams that look like they’re headed toward a pick or many high-end prospects to trade, and as long as
summer of keg stands and fountain pool parties. they’re healthy there aren’t any big holes in the lineup. Kevin
The Carolina Hurricanes broke out a few new post-win Kurz has them in the market for bottom-six depth instead,
celebrations this week, and Don Cherry criticized them for it. which sounds right. Let’s say they land Kevin Hayes, who I
That meant we all had to spend the weekend playing yet don’t think will end up costing as much as the Rangers might
another round of that game where we pretend that this is like.
some sort of raging and divisive controversy, and not 1. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-11-4, +70) – Those all-black
something that 95 percent of the hockey world already likes uniforms they wore on Saturday aren’t great. Sorry, I realize
and supports. You’re being criticized by Don Cherry and that’s mild criticism, but I’ve just been waiting all year for a
Brian Burke and like three random dudes on Twitter, chance to say something negative about the Lightning.
Hurricanes fans. Everyone else has your back. You’ll be fine.
As for the deadline, this is the Lightning. That means that
In other news, the Hurricanes are going to make the playoffs, they’re capped out and don’t have the assets to make a
which will be good, and somebody is going to try to claim major move, but will somehow still pull off something big that
that they did it because they played duck-duck-goose after will leave you confused about how they always managed to
their games, which will be terrible. do that. Let’s say this year’s version is Wayne Simmonds.
5. New York Islanders (35-17-6, +33 true goals differential*) *Goals differential without counting shootout decisions like
– Saturday’s win may have spelled the end of the Barclays the NHL does for some reason.
Center era. The team doesn’t have any more regular-seasonCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
Not ranked: Columbus Blue Jackets – We can’t do a lottery hopes. Even worse would be passing on the
deadline predictions piece without mentioning the one team opportunity to trade Jimmy Howard, which would seem to be
that’s under more pressure this week than anyone. Or can an absolute must-do for any reasonable tanking plan.
we? It’s tempting to skip them and hope nobody notices
because I’ve honestly got no idea what they’re going to do. But where do you move him? Columbus would be a no-
brainer if they dealt Bobrovsky, but right now that seems
Do they trade Bobrovsky? Sure. Maybe. It would make unlikely. The Sharks might make some sense, but we’ve
sense. But to who? He’d almost certainly be a rental, and already predicted that they tinker instead. So let’s go off the
there aren’t many Cup contenders out there who desperately grid a bit and send Howard to the Vancouver Canucks in a
need an expensive starting goaltender having an off-year. deal that doesn’t bring all that much back to Detroit, but does
clear the crease for their needed stretch run at last overall.
Do they move Panarin? That makes a lot more sense, and it
sounds like they could be leaning that way. But where does 2. Anaheim Ducks (23-27-9, -55) – Sunday’s ceremony
he wind up? Over the weekend, the Hockey Night in Canada honoring Scott Niedermayer was well-done. It’s also
insiders suggested Dallas might be in play, which seems probably the last time the Ducks will be raising anything to
odd, but those guys know their stuff. Could the Bruins make the rafters for a long time, so enjoy it while you can.
it work? Are the Predators too obvious? Would they move
him in the division? Do they pair both guys together and pull The frustrating thing for Anaheim fans is that the Ducks don’t
off a mega-deal with the Panthers? Is it really analysis if all seem all that well-positioned for the deadline. They don’t
I’m doing it asking questions? have a ton of attractive rentals, and their biggest contracts
are unmovable. Meanwhile, Jakob Silfverberg seems to have
I’m pretty sure the answer to that last one is “no”, but become a divisive name, with rumors that the team might re-
otherwise I’m stumped. The Blue Jackets are fascinating sign him instead of dealing him for futures. I’m betting they
right now, because there’s a chance that they could make move him, although probably not for as much as they’d like.
two of the biggest trades in deadline history this week. But Boston could make sense.
they could also do nothing, and sell it as an all-in “nobody
believes in us” vote of confidence to the current roster. It 1. Ottawa Senators (22-31-5, -32) – All eyes are on Ottawa,
might even work. with reports over the weekend suggesting that Duchene is as
good as gone but that Stone could stay.
So that’s my call: The Blue Jackets don’t move either of their
big UFAs. Is that a prediction, or a clumsy reverse-jinx That would be great news for Senators fans; Stone is
attempt to try to conjure up a serious blockbuster or two? basically the face of the franchise at this point, and seeing
That’s one question I actually do know the answer to, but I’ll him choose to walk away rather than buy into the rebuild
let you decide. would be a tough pill.
The bottom five But I’m still not convinced he stays. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m
leaning toward Stone running out the clock and being
The five teams that look like they’re headed toward hoping moved. Star players who make it this far into the season
the ping-pong balls deliver Jack Hughes. without an extension rarely sign them right before the trade
deadline, and the two sides may have just run out of time. In
I thought this was a cool concept: An “Injustice” index, a perfect world, maybe the Senators trade Stone for a
measuring the possibility that a team finishes with one of the ransom, make big progress in their extremely challenging
league’s 16 best records but doesn’t make the playoffs. rebuild, and then build on whatever progress they’d made on
There’s an excellent chance it happens to at least one a long-term contract by trying to bring him back on July 1.
Eastern team this year, thanks to the slow-motion race in the But as most Ottawa fans will tell you, this isn’t a perfect
West. Feel free to get your playoff format hot takes ready in world.
advance.
So here’s my somewhat depressing prediction for Ottawa:
5. Edmonton Oilers (24-29-5, -35) – There isn’t much to be They trade both Duchene and Stone, then overcompensate
optimistic about in Edmonton these days, but here’s by re-signing Ryan Dzingel to a deal that has everyone
something positive: Their AHL team looks fantastic. scratching their heads.
As far as trades, they made that pair over the weekend but Not ranked: Florida Panthers – The Panthers should be
nobody seems to think they’re done. sellers because they’re bad, but that’s not why everyone’s
They desperately need some scoring wingers, and could still watching them these days. Instead, it’s the sense that they’re
trade Jesse Puljujarvi. That would be pretty much the all-in on Bobrovsky and Panarin as a package deal, and
definition of selling low on an asset and would be the sort of could do something big over the next week to either clear
thing a smart organization wouldn’t do. So my prediction for salary or even land both guys in some sort of mega-
this week is that the Oilers trade Jesse Puljujarvi. blockbuster.
4. New Jersey Devils (23-28-8, -29) – The Devils don’t seem That would be all sorts of fun, but you wonder why the
like an especially exciting deadline seller; barring a surprise, Panthers would bother when they can wait until free agency.
it’s basically Marcus Johansson for a pick and that’s about it. Yes, there’s something to be said for getting a deal done
Let’s send him to (spins wheel)… Vegas? Sure, why not. now to avoid the uncertainty of a bidding war. But how much
of a premium do you pay for that? Not enough of one to
3. Detroit Red Wings (23-29-8, -28) – This week’s regulation make the Blue Jackets blink, would be my guess. I’m betting
win over the Senators was potentially devastating to their the Panthers are mostly quiet, although Derick Brassard stillCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
seems likely to move and a Mike Hoffman trade wouldn’t So those are my predictions for most of the biggest names.
shock me. Feel free to make your own picks in the comments. All this
stuff will seem obvious in another week, but remember: It
doesn’t count if you never said it out loud before it happens.
'Bunch of jerks' Canes revel in Don Cherry's criticism
Raleigh, N.C. — "Bunch of jerks" has become the new The Canes started doing choreographed routines following
rallying cry for the Carolina Hurricanes. home victories earlier this season, such as being knocked
down by a helmet like a bunch of bowling pins, hitting a
Legendary "Hockey Night in Canada" broadcaster Don game-winning homerun or racing to one end of the rink.
Cherry went off on the Canes and their post-game victory
celebrations on Saturday, calling them unprofessional. "I know what I'm talking about. You never do anything like
that. They're still not drawing [crowds]. They're a bunch of
"This is the National Hockey League. [Rod] Brind'Amour, to jerks as far as I'm concerned. Imagine Justin Williams doing
me, is a good coach. These guys are jerks," Cherry said. "I'll stuff like that – ridiculous," Cherry said.
tell you one thing. They better not do this in the playoffs."
The Canes took the criticism as a marketing opportunity,
Cherry was so irate that he, at times, had difficulty putting "Bunch of Jerks" T-shirts on sale later this week.
completing a thought before his anger took him someplace
else. The club also changed the bio on its Twitter page to "That
bunch of jerks with the fun celebrations."
"This is a joke. The rest of the guys, young men expressing
themselves for joy of winning. You don't do this, it's "Our players love it. Our fans love it. Nothing else matters,"
professional hockey. What are these guys, the jerks or the club tweeted.
something?" he ranted.
Hurricanes turn Don Cherry's 'bunch of jerks' rant into T-shirt
Greg WyshynskiESPN talking about. You never do anything like that. They're still
not drawing. They're still a bunch of jerks, as far as I'm
The Carolina Hurricanes' elaborate home-ice victory concerned."
celebrations have attracted a vocal minority of detractors,
and none have been as vocal as Canadian curmudgeon Don How did the Hurricanes respond to this rant? By embracing
Cherry. it, and monetizing it.
The "Hockey Night In Canada" commentator has ripped the On Sunday, the team announced it would begin selling
choreographed on-ice celebrations in the past, but he went officially licensed "Bunch of Jerks" shirts at their arena and
off on the team when the Hurricanes followed a Friday night online:
win over Edmonton by pretending one of their players had hit
a game-winning home run with his hockey stick. The shirt was the brainchild of Dan LaTorraca, director of
digital marketing, and Mike Forman, VP of marketing and
"This is the National Hockey League. These guys, to me, are brand strategy, according to the team.
jerks. They're still not drawing [fans]. I'll tell you one thing,
they better not do this in the playoffs," said Cherry on "You asked, we delivered about 20 hours later," said
Saturday night. "That is absolutely ridiculous. I know all the Forman, who worked with BreakingT in designing the shirt.
broadcasters are afraid to say something ... I know what I'mCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
The Hurricanes began doing their postgame victory "We're trying to rebrand the Carolina Hurricanes into being
celebrations this season, inspired by an edict by new owner relevant, I guess," captain Justin Williams told ESPN earlier
Tom Dundon to increase the entertainment quotient at this season. "This is one small thing. This is just a
sparsely attended home games. celebration after the game. But it means something to us
because there hasn't been a lot of success here, and we're
They started simple, with the players rushing from one end of trying to show people that we won't stand for it."
the ice to the other in a "storm surge" into the glass. Over
time, they've included elaborate choreography such as the The Hurricanes are 16-9-4 at home and are one point out of
limbo, "duck, duck, goose," and one player "knocking down" the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
all the others by pretending to wield Thor's hammer.
Yes, Hurricanes are already making ‘bunch of jerks’ shirts
By James O'Brien Bunch of jerks? More like bunch of wrinkles, am I right?
The Carolina Hurricanes aren’t hesitating to jump on Don Anyway, fun stuff from Carolina. Just imagine the shirts
Cherry’s “bunch of jerks” gripe about the team’s win they’ll come up with if they can edge the
celebrations. Penguins/Canadiens/other teams for a spot in the 2019
Stanley Cup Playoffs?
As PHT’s Adam Gretz detailed on Saturday, the Hurricanes
not only had fun with their latest wins, they also embraced (The Penguins went back ahead of the Hurricanes on
Cherry’s criticisms by referencing it in the team’s Twitter bio. Sunday, so Carolina needs to stay at it.)
To really hammer home the point that this marketing team
moves fast, note that they’re now churning out “bunch of
jerks” shirts.
The Buzzer: Mrazek shines for ‘Canes, Kucherov’s unstoppable run
By Adam Gretz win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night was a
big help on that front and it was driven by a shutout from
Three Stars Darcy Kuemper who turned aside all 22 shots he faced to
1. Petr Mrazek, Carolina Hurricanes. The Carolina shut out one of the NHL’s best offensive teams.
Hurricanes moved into a playoff position on Saturday night Other Notable Performances From Saturday Night
with a 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars (then celebrated like “a
bunch of jerks“). It was Petr Mrazek playing a key role by The St. Louis Blues winning streak reached nine games
stopping all 33 shots he faced to recorded his third shutout of thanks to a Jake Allen shutout and another big game for
the season. It hasn’t been a great season for Mrazek overall, Vladimir Tarasenko, while the Colorado Avalanche continued
but he came through in a big way for them on Saturday night to fade.
to help put them in a position that seemed impossible for
them to reach a couple of months ago. The Ottawa Senators’ big-three trade candidates all played
big roles in their overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets as
2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning. Just another day Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel all scored
at the office for Nikita Kucherov, the NHL’s leading scorer. goals. Dzingel’s goal was the overtime winner.
He recorded his fourth consecutive multi-point game and is
already up to 94 points on the season in just 59 games Erik Karlsson made his return to the San Jose Sharks’ lineup
played. He is still having a season for the ages. Quite literally and recorded an assist in their 3-2 win over the Vancouver
for the ages. These are Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux Canucks. Joe Pavelski also had two points in the win.
type numbers he is recording this season. Derek Ryan had three assists for the Calgary Flames in a 5-
3. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes. The Arizona Coyotes 4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
have a brutal season on the injury front and are trying to
hang on in the Western Conference playoff race. Their 2-0CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
After losing three games in a row and seven of their past Saturday was the sixth time in Philadelphia Flyers franchise
nine games the Vegas Golden Knights broke out of their history they surrendered a four-goal lead but still went on to
slump with a big 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators. win the game. That is … kind of impressive in a weird sort of
way. [NHL PR]
Highlights of the Night
Phil Kessel became the 16th American-born player in NHL
Check out this snipe by Columbus Blue Jackets forward history to record at least 800 points in the NHL with an assist
Pierre-Luc Dubois to open the scoring in their win over the in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-4 loss to the Calgary Flames
Chicago Blackhawks. on Saturday afternoon. [NHL PR]
Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask made the save of the Scores
night against the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins went on to
the game 4-2 to keep pace in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia Flyers 6, Detroit Red Wings 5 (OT)
This shot by Ryan Pulock to open the scoring for the New Calgary Flames 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4
York Islanders in their win over the Edmonton Oilers was an
absolute rocket. Perfectly placed, too. An unstoppable shot if St. Louis Blues 3, Colorado Avalanche 0
there ever was one. Arizona Coyotes 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
Factoids Ottawa Senators 4, Winnipeg Jets 3 (OT)
Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane extended his Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Montreal Canadiens 0
points streak to 17 games. This is the first time since 2009-
10 that more than one player has had a point streak of at New York Islanders 5, Edmonton Oilers 2
least 17 games in a single season. [NHL PR] Carolina Hurricanes 3, Dallas Stars 0
The Tampa Bay Lightning have three players with at least 70 Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2
points through the first 60 games of the season. The most
recent team to do that was the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins. Vegas Golden Knights 5, Nashville Predators 1
[NHL PR]
San Jose Sharks 3, Vancouver Canucks 2
The Winnipeg Jets did not win, but they did collect a point for
Boston Bruins 4, Los Angeles Kings 2
the overtime loss thanks in large part to a pair of
shorthanded goals. [NHL PR]
Carolina Hurricanes continue to get creative with wild celebrations, analyst calls them
'bunch of jerks'
Don Cherry is not a fan of the Canes' team celebrations gone on. And plenty of home wins for the Hurricanes, who
currently hold a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference,
by Pete Blackburn means that there have been plenty of celebrations.
The Carolina Hurricanes are having fun and not everyone is They've already done human bowling:
cool with it.
They've done Duck, Duck, Goose (or Duck, Duck, Gray Duck
The Hurricanes play in a non-traditional hockey market and if that's your thing):
have had trouble drawing fans in the past, so they've
decided to try some non-traditional tactics this year in an They've done the limbo:
effort to up their "fun" and bring more people to the arena.
Hey, it worked pretty well for the Vegas Golden Knights in But one of their best celebrations of the year came earlier
their first season last year, right? this week when they went full baseball:
With that in mind, in an effort to somewhat rebrand the team Certain traditionalists have been crying and whining about
and how they approach the game, Carolina has developed a the celebrations all year long, but the baseball one in
new tradition of closing out home wins with some wild, particular seemed to strike a nerve with many in the anti-celly
choreographed team celebrations on the ice. crowd.
It started out as a very simple idea, but the celebrations have This weekend, Hockey Night In Canada's Don Cherry
become more creative and elaborate as the season has decided it was time to weigh in, and he had some predictably
strong thoughts against fun. More specifically, Cherry calledCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
the Canes "a bunch of jerks" for disrespecting the sanctity of But, for what it's worth, the Hurricanes don't seem too
hockey, or something like that. bothered by Cherry's comments. In fact, they've chosen to
embrace the "bunch of jerks" brand and their fans have
It's rather ironic that Cherry, who wears bold and outrageous followed suit.
suits on a weekly basis, has such an issue with the Canes
deviating from the norm for a fun expression of personality. It's only a matter of time before the Canes go all-in and start
It's also rather ironic that he chose to say "imagine Justin filling their team store with "Bunch of Jerks" merch.
Williams doing something like that?" when Williams -- the
current Canes captain -- is a driving force behind the trend Update (4 p.m. ET): The Canes have started filling their team
and one of its biggest defenders. store with "Bunch of Jerks" merch.
Cherry: Hurricanes 'are jerks' for the way they celebrate wins
Stan Temming Well, Grapes, like it or not, the group’s slow clap and
choreographed skit that goes along with it — known
Just in case you weren’t sure where Hockey Night in Canada affectionately as the “Storm Surge” — have grown quite
commentator Don Cherry stood on the Carolina Hurricanes’ popular. The rink stays full following victories because fans
win celebrations on home ice, he stated his feelings loud and are curious to see what the team will come up with next. And
clear on Coach’s Corner on Saturday night. due to their hot play as of late, Cherry’s fears of these
The former Boston Bruins bench boss went on quite the rant shenanigans potentially happening during the postseason
about the team’s antics after Friday night’s viral may become a reality.
spectacle following a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. With Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars, the
His co-host, Ron MacLean, and the rest of the country were Hurricanes are now 16-5-1 in 2019. As a result, they’ve
just along for the ride during the 85-year-old’s colourful leaped over the Pittsburgh Penguins to find themselves in
speech. the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
“These guys, to me, are jerks,” he said. “They better not do We have a feeling their social media team may have heard
this in the playoffs… This is a joke.” Cherry’s thoughts because their Twitter bio looked a little
different following his rant.
Hurricanes create 'bunch of jerks' T-shirt after commentator's rant
Longtime hockey commentator Don Cherry referred to the about their unique victory celebrations, which most recently
Carolina Hurricanes as "a bunch of jerks" on Saturday night. featured a limbo line.
And if T-shirt sales are any indication, they're fully embracing "This is the National Hockey League. These guys, to me, are
that label. jerks. They're still not drawing (fans). And I'll tell you one
thing, they better not do this in the playoffs," Cherry said
The Hurricanes announced Sunday that they will start selling Saturday night.
officially-licensed shirts with "Bunch of Jerks" emblazoned on
the front, above a Hurricanes logo. The shirts, which are "I know the rest of the people, all the broadcasters are afraid
printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, and designed by to say something. ... I know what I'm talking about. You
BreakingT, sell for $32 apiece. never do anything like that. They're still not drawing (fans).
They're a bunch of jerks, as far as I'm concerned."
"You asked, and we delivered about 20 hours later,"
Carolina's vice president of marketing and brand strategy Hockey teams traditionally celebrate wins with mild-
Mike Forman said, according to ESPN. mannered high-five lines and stick salutes to the home
crowd. But captain Justin Williams says the choreographed
Cherry, the "Hockey Night in Canada" commentator,
described the Hurricanes as "a bunch of jerks" in a rantCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • February 18, 2019
celebrations are a way of bringing a "fun element" to "The stick wave at the end got a little stale, a little
victories, both for the team and its fans. monotonous, it was like we had to do it," Williams said in
October. "This adds a different element to it. Hockey is fun.
We win a game we want to celebrate."
The Don Cherry and Carolina Hurricanes beef, explained
By: Charles Curtis But all of this has led to some pearl-clutching.
Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and Who’s doing that?
better understanding stuff going on in the world.
Don Cherry.
You may have seen some talk around social media and
sports sites like ours about the Carolina Hurricanes and the Remind me, who’s he again?
NHL team’s conflict with Don Cherry, the Canadian hockey He’s the long-time CBC commentator who wears garish suits
commentator who works for the CBC. Maybe you’ve seen t- and who prefers old school hockey and other sports with
shirts and Simpsons memes on the subject, perhaps you’ve #grit and no celebrating.
seen some headlines about some back-and-forth between
the two parties. Oh, him. What did he say?
If so, and if you’ve wondered what was up with that, don’t be He called the Canes a bunch of jerks:
alarmed. We’re here to help with a breakdown of the conflict. “These guys, to me, are jerks. … This is, to me, and I’ll tell
What’s going on with the Hurricanes? you one thing, they better not do this in the playoffs. What I
don’t understand is Brind’Amour is a straight shooter, he
Carolina is a really good hockey team this year and they’ve always was. This is a joke! The rest of the guys, ‘young men,
taken to celebrating wins with what they call the “Storm expressing themselves, for joy of winning’ … his is
Surge,” with the entire team leading the crowd in a Viking professional hockey! What are these guys, jerks or
Clap and then pulling off the hockey equivalent of a something?”
touchdown dance. There was the game of Duck, Duck
Goose: How did the Hurricanes respond?
They did the limbo: Brilliantly. They started by taking the Simpsons‘ “old man
yells at cloud” meme and updating it:
Don’t forget about bowling …
Then they had t-shirts made and changed their Twitter bio:
… or dominoes:
And they even threw Cherry saying, “Imagine Justin Williams
What’s wrong with that? doing stuff like that!” right back at him:
According to us: Nothing! It’s great for the fans and it’s so Do you think the Canes will troll Cherry with a future “Storm
much fun for the team. We are all for things that are fun in Surge”?
sports — bat flips, touchdown dances, complex handshakes,
etc, especially if it unites a team. Wouldn’t that be something?
(By the way, the most recent Storm Surge was … a bat flip!)
Don Cherry calls the Carolina Hurricanes ‘a bunch of jerks’ because of victory celebrations
By Jake Russell with viking claps followed by tossing an imaginary home-run
pitch to Warren Foegele.
Perhaps the irony was lost on Don Cherry, a man known for
his flashy, attention-seeking suits, when he espoused a “get The team has even organized a game of duck, duck, goose
off my lawn” persona Saturday as he discussed the topic of along with bowling and human dominoes.
the Carolina Hurricanes’ postgame celebrations.
But there’s no room for that kind of celebratory behavior in
The Hurricanes have been doing a lot of winning lately (three hockey, Cherry said.
straight victories and eight of their past 10 games). They also
have been providing a lot of postgame entertainment for their The 85-year-old railed against the Hurricanes on Saturday
home crowd, calling the celebrations the “Storm Surge.” on “Hockey Night in Canada,” calling the team “a bunch of
jerks” for having too much fun.
On Friday, the Hurricanes celebrated a 3-1 win over the
Edmonton Oilers with Dougie Hamilton leading the crowdYou can also read
