Regular Sibling Rivarly Ain't Got Nothing On These Guys

So...long summer already isn't it? Canes-done. Rats-done. You know you're desperate when you start cheering for Philly just because Leights and Lavi are rocking the black and orange.

Well, clearly the guys over at Edwards Mill Road were a little bored too. They were probably sitting around (possibly playing ping pong in the players' lounge) going "hey you guys we need to do something...anything...". Then out of nowhere a little voice probably piped up "I know! I know! Ohh ohhh pick me!" You see when he wasn't texting or hiding under certain people's beds, Tripp had been working on a plan. "We need another Staal" he declared with authority.

Now I know what you're thinking and it does seem a little redundant to acquire a second member of the same family, but that ol' JR thought it was just crazy enough to work. So he went out and got himself another Staal. No not that Staal. Nope not that one either. Oh come on now people, that's just silly. There you go! That one.

Yup it's official, Jared Staal is a Carolina Hurricane. Well as long as they can sign him by June 1st (UPDATE: it seems they have agreed to terms with Jared) and provided, of course, that he makes the team at some point. But forget those small details, we are just inches away from having more Staals than any other team in the league! That means we're guaranteed to win Stanley Cups! It means the hockey gods will smile on us once again! I can see the promos now and they are Staal-tastic! :does a little jig full of sarcasm:

Honestly, no one knows whether this will turn into anything more than a PR stunt, but it did get me thinking about other brother combos in the NHL. We all know about the Sutters, the Richards, and the Staals. But what about lesser known names like the Millers, the Birons and the Cullens?

Some sibling fun facts first: since the NHL's inception in 1917, 47 brother pairs have played together on the same team with 10 of them winning the Stanley Cup together. Brothers have battled against each other 5 times in the Cup Finals (with the most recent incidence of sibling rivalry being in 2003 when the Niedermayer boys of the Ducks and Devils squared off).

The Miller boys are the first of two American born siblings that are making dinner conversations just a tad more tense. Ryan Miller is probably the better known of the two (Olympic hero, goaltender extraordinare), but baby bro Drew has one thing Ryan doesn't-a Stanley Cup ring (with the Ducks). Who do you think gets shotgun now?

The duo never played against (or with) each other until the two met in the NHL as opponents. The two couldn't be more different. Drew is the more "aggressive" of the two, even giving his brother a shot across the mask during their first NHL meeting. Ryan is more "serious, analytical and even-tempered" and once asked for Star Wars Imperial Guards to "guard his room and keep Drew out of it". But, despite their differences, the two are most definitely friends, even if Drew does give his teammates the inside scoop on Ryan's weaknesses.

The Cullen have definitely managed to fly under the radar as far as "NHL brothers" go. While Matt is very familiar to fans all over the National Hockey League, younger brothers Mark and Joe are definitely less well known. Mark played 32 NHL games for the Blackhawks and Flyers in 2005-2006 and plays for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. After being drafted by Edmonton, Joe has spent his whole career in the minors and now is part of the Ottawa Senators organization.
The Biron brothers made some history back in November of 2003 when Matheiu (then a defenseman for the Panthers) became the first player in 23 years to score on his brother. Bonus points if you can tell me who the last pair of brothers were that held this record. As Martin Biron, owner of the laser eyes, said:

"The [last set of] brothers probably have been fighting for the last 23 years," Martin Biron joked. "We'll probably be fighting for the next 23 years, my brother and I."

The Canadian born brothers no longer play against each other now that Matheiu has taken his services to Europe and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Martin remains in the NHL as one of the many goaltenders in the Islanders' system.

Odds are everyone has heard of the Lundqvist twins, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't jump at a chance to post this picture:
Umm...yeah let's move along. The identical Swedish twins (Henrik is 40 minutes older) became the third set of twins to play against each other in NHL history back in 2006. Growing up the brothers may have had their battles on the ice, but they always considered each other as a best friends first and rivals second. In fact, Henrik (and the Rangers for that matter) has Joel to thank for turning him into a goalie. When a coach asked the group who wanted to be in net, Joel volunteered his brother and the rest, as they say, is history.

Last, but certainly not least, are the Wesley brothers. Glen was, of course, a fixture on the Carolina blueline before hanging up the skates and moving to the front office. But many may not be as familiar with his older brother Blake (also a d-man) who played parts of 7 seasons with the Flyers, Whalers, Nordiques and Leafs before retiring in 1988.

So there you have it. Will the 4th Staal follow in the footsteps of the older three and earn his place in the NHL (and Hurricanes) history books or, like some of the "other brothers" here, will he forever be a footnote on a Wikipedia page? Only time will tell. For the Hurricanes' sake I sincerely hope it's the first one.

Getting To Know...Alexandre Picard!

Our second installment of "Getting To Know..." features one Alexandre Picard who came to Raleigh in exchange for the Hurricanes' version of Ol' Blue Eyes prior to the Olympic break. The 24 (almost 25) year old from Quebec was drafted by Philadelphia in 2003 and helped the Philadelphia Phantoms win the Calder Cup in 2005 (along with Creepie...err Joni Pitkanen) before his rookie season in 2006. Picard has bounced around the NHL quite a bit with stops in Tampa Bay and Ottawa before finding a home (at least temporarily) in Carolina.

Born in Gatineau, Picard has a younger brother and learned to love the game while watching his father coach on the weekends. He's also a bit of a mama's boy, at least when it comes to food, citing his mother's lasagna as his favorite meal.

Some random facts about our newest David Tanabe look-a-like:
*His best trait is patience and he values honesty in other people. Don't worry Alex-we're nothing but honest in Carolina.
*He never goes on the road without a good book.
*His first job was a soccer referee and he wanted to be a hockey player or sports journalist when he was little.
*He'd like to learn how to play the guitar and travel through Europe at some point.
*His worst subject in school? Math. Best subject? French.
*He was quote "probably nervous as hell" during his first date.

Picard has never been an offensive dynamo (his career high in goals is 1), but his 15 points and 11 assists put him at third and tied for second respectively among Sens' d-men before being traded in March. But he brings a young body that MoRonRowe can mold into the kind of player they want on the blueline.

So welcome to Raleigh Alex! Try the BBQ, check out a college basketball game (just don't pick a favorite), stay away from Tripp and never, ever watch game footage of A.Ward unless it's for laughs.

Getting To Know...Brian Pothier!

After the trade deadline, the Hurricanes have a few new faces rocking the red and black which means it's time to introduce our newest feature-"Getting To Know..."- where we will learn a little bit more about some of the newest members of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Our first spotlight falls on 32 year old defenseman Brian Pothier (who clearly knows his audience here at the Siren-yes I know, it's a little much and I did get it from the Scarlet Caps website, but somehow it seemed better than a picture of him with the Capitals' logo on his chest). Brian was born in the good ol' US of A (seems fitting he should replace another US born d-man of similar age eh?) and started his career in Atlanta after signing as an undrafted free agent in 1999. But if he thought that signing a contract meant the rough times were over, Pothier was sadly mistaken.

After a vicious hit from Milan Lucic in early 2008, Pothier would learn firsthand just how fragile health is and the temporary nature of a career in the NHL. The d-man's fourth concussion sidelined him for 14 agonizing months during which time he struggled both on and off the ice with dizziness and vertigo. In what must have been a mixture of relief and confusion, Pothier was eventually diagnosed as having an astigmatism that was causing the majority of his symptoms previously attributed to post concussion syndrome. After being fit for a new pair of glasses in, you guessed it, North Cackalacky, Pothier began his dramatic comeback with an eye on a return to the NHL.

"It was, he said, like a 'light bulb turned on, and I was good to go. I'm a full-blown dad again. I'm functioning great. It's just been a great progression on and off the ice. On the ice and then at home as a dad, a husband and a family guy, too.'"

In March of 2009, Pothier got just that. He re-entered the Capitals' lineup and earned a roster spot for the team's playoff run. He played 41 games for the Capitals and put up a respectable 11 points and was an impressive +12 from the blueline prior to being traded to Raleigh. His no nonsense attitude to press interviews may be a treat for those of us who are tired of the same old sports cliches. But his biggest contribution to the Hurricanes, or any team for that matter, may be the added perspective that one gets from struggling against and eventually overcoming adversity.

So I'd like to be the first (well probably like the 400th) person to welcome Brian Pothier to Raleigh! Hopefully his time here is filled with much success and lots of Stanley Cups! Hey a girl can dream can't she? I heard that we still weren't out of this thing entirely...

Cullen's Now A Senator

The Hurricanes announced today yet another Cup holdover is saying "hasta la vista" to Raleigh. Matt Cullen was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Picard and a 2nd round draft pick (perhaps another example of JR's pimp hand holding strong). Unlike Wallin (and Ray Whitney), Cullen didn't have that pesky NTC so there's not telling if he's ok with the move, although quotes like this (courtesy of the N&O) make me think it wasn't his first choice:

"We have a home here and love it, and obviously have some great friends and great memories here," he said. "Certainly this is the place where I really like playing, but we'll just have to see how it plays out."

But, one thing is certain, his fans and teammates will undoubtedly miss Ol' Blue Eyes.

Cullen always went about his business quietly, but he's had significant succes in his 2 stints with the 'Canes, putting up 181 points in 266 games played. He's a defensively sound forward who played in all positions and was trusted by his coaches immensely.

His career with the Hurricanes has given us some great moments. We witnessed his first career hattrick. We watched Scott Walker get in trouble for defending his little fuzzy face not once, but twice. We learned that he likes to hang out in hot tubs with other guys, that Ray Whitney peed himself during the anthem and that Scotty walks around naked too often for his liking (yeah clearly Matty has a bit of a sharing problem). We've even gotten to see his unique playoff facial hair choices. But above all else, we've been lucky enough to watch Matt Cullen battle back from injury to become a significant part of franchise history.

So best of luck to you Matt and may Ottawa be all you want it to be. Know that you will be greatly missed and always welcome in Raleigh!

Thanks For The Memories

As you may have read/heard/seen written in the sky, Niclas Wallin was traded to the San Jose Sharks today in a move that, while not entirely shocking, is still sad for those of us who remember some of the Secret Weapon's best moments.

An original draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2000, Wallin has been a staple on the blueline in Raleigh putting up 69 points in 517 games played. But when it comes to Wallin, perhaps the quality of points is more important than the quantity. No one will ever forget Wallin's playoff OT heroics (3 goals is a franchise record!) against Montreal and New Jersey which led to him being dubbed "the Secret Weapon" by Caniac faithful.


But again, there is more to Wallin than meets the eye, especially in terms of what he brings to his team. He is the ultimate team guy who always puts the group above the individual, even if it means taking some good natured ribbing in the process as was the case with his goal against...well against the Hurricanes:

"In fact, former coach Peter Laviolette used Wallin’s gaffe on a highlight reel of bloopers to loosen up the team before the playoffs. 'We did a voice-over saying what a great move by Wallin to make the game close,' Forslund said. 'He took it all in stride -- he’s been a terrific Hurricane.'"

That he has John. That he has.

Wallin is just one of those all-around good guys. He's not flashy, but he has created moments that will live in Hurricanes' lore forever. He does his job, but doesn't need his coaches to babysit him. He's a man of few words, but is always quick with a joke (or an invitation to wrestle) to lighten the mood in a sometimes very tense locker room. He is a leader, but doesn't ask for any recognition. He's a hockey player who knows how to arrange his priorities (winning a game 7 the night before doesn't mean he can't take his son to hockey practice the next morning). He's the kind of guy that will bring a PR intern a pizza in a hotel lobby and then sit and eat with him. He is a man that loves his job and takes nothing for granted.

"I love to come to the rink, and whether you win or lose this is something that not many people get a chance to do and you’ve got to enjoy that. All the history and all the overtime Secret Weapon stuff, I will look back when I’m done playing."

His teammates adore him (especially his "brother from another mother"), his coaches trust him and his fans will always remember him. Thank you Nic for everything you've given to this organization. You will be missed and never be forgotten. Best of luck wherever life takes you.

Gleason to Vancouver (for Olympics), Wallin to San Jose (for good-maybe)

In the department of congratulatory gushing, The Hurricane Siren would like to officially congratulate Tim Gleason for being named to the USA Olympic squad to replace the injured Mike Komisarek. Rock on Timmy, go to Vancouver and kick some butt (especially if it's Russian and toothless). We are beyond proud of you.

Some random quotes from the day that I thought were just perfect:

"He's a different player in terms of his psychological makeup -- he's more of a guy who speaks with his actions. He’s not chatty," said Burke, who worked with Gleason while GM of last summer’s American entry at the IIHF World Championship. "Your worst nightmare might be to get stuck in a fishing boat with Tim Gleason for an afternoon."

Jeez Burke, even when you're right you're wrong. I, for one, would LOVE to be stuck on a boat with Timmy. Although I do suppose I should semi-apologize for the "self-portrait" of you from New Year's Day. So maybe we'll call this one even.

”He’s a guy that will go to war for us, and that’s exactly what this team needs,” added Poile.

Oy. You should have asked Hurricanes' fans a month ago and we would have saved the Olympic Committee this whole big headache.

Clearly, JR is cool with the decision. And by "cool" I clearly mean "in the midst of a little man crush on the Timster".

"If Eric Staal wasn't the new captain of the Hurricanes, Tim Gleason would be," Rutherford told NHL.com.

And finally a word from the Emperor himself:

"It's an awesome thing. It's something to play for I guess, other than the Stanley Cup. And it's always been a goal of mine; a dream of mine and it's finally come true. It's a great opportunity for myself."

In the department of massive depression and the horror that is being a seller at the trade deadline, the rumor has been floating around all day today that Niclas Wallin has waived his NTC to go to San Jose. John Forslund is reporting that he waived his NTC in an effort to remain in the NHL next season; a contract extension is supposedly part of the deal. JR has confirmed that a deal is in the works, but declined to say where the Big Swede would be headed.

To further add to the rumor mill, Jiri "Nakey Boy" Tlusty was reassigned to Albany where he can terrorize another fan base with his...errr...ummm...passion for photography. Either a forward is coming off the injured list although tweets suggest it won't be in time for tomorrow night or a trade is in the works and Nakey Boy's spot was needed. UPDATE: JR has attributed Tlusty's return to Albany as a development move saying that they want him to play all the way through the Olympic break. Still no word on who will take his spot against Buffalo tomorrow night.

This is just a sign of things to come for Hurricanes’ fans. The next few weeks will be beyond tough for the diehards as many players are expected to leave North Carolina for greener, and likely colder, pastures. This is the tough side of hockey, the business side that leaves a sour taste in all fans’ mouths and unfortunately it is where this season has taken us.

Holy Moly What Do We Do Without Our Goalie?!

In probably the least surprising moment of the year thus far, the Canes dropped their 12th in a row to Columbus last night. But no one is talking about that today. Instead everyone is insanely concerned about the fate of our Campion Wardolie who was taken to the hospital after getting cut by Rick Nash's skate. Calamity Cam remains in the hospital and is out for, as JR put it, a "fairly long period of time." Ouch. My heart hurts.

Let us all take a moment to offer a prayer to the hockey gods (or the diety of your choice) for Cam's speedy recovery.

Ahem
Dear merciful and benevolent hockey gods,
I would like to apologize on behalf of all Canes' fans for our blatant disregard of your power and excellence. We shouldn't have cursed you when things didn't go our team's way. We had no right to complain when we lost guys to injury and suspension. How dare we assume we were going to excel this year? That is for you and you alone to decide. We admit we've sinned and we will do anything to repent for these mistakes. If there is anything I can do personally to right this wrong, just send me a sign. I will no longer make fun of E.Staal. I will call Creepie by his real name. I will stop making suggestive comments about Tripp's preferences. But please for the love of Gretzky, give us Cam back. We will never again take him for granted nor shall we question your power over the hockey world if you will give us this one small bit of hope. Amen.

As bad as the Cam in the hospital thing is, what may be even worse is that the fate of goaltending for the Carolina Hurricanes is in the hands of one Michael Leighton. Dear god. Is it too early to cue the locusts and the 7 horsemen? No? Ok I didn't think so. Now to be fair to Leights, he did do admirably well during Cam's absence last season, but that was a much shorter period of time and with a much less fragile hockey club. This is a horse of a different color and it's an ugly one. Leighton is inheriting a mess of a team that usually looks to Cam to be their saving grace. Sadly, I'm not entirely convinced that Leighton has the ability to deal with that situation. And neither Justin Peters nor Mike Murphy are ready to make the leap to NHL level goalie.

So, other than crying (and possibly some heavy drinking-NOTE I am not condoning alcoholism!) what do we do? Should Tripper come out of the press box and mind the nets again? Because I don't know if you knew this, but Tripp used to be a goaltender. Yup that's right, The Hurricane Siren-breaking news first. ;) Should Tommy B. come out of retirement and trade designer suits for Nike-Bauer pads? As fun as both of those options would be, I don't think they're all that realistic. And it's a shame because I had even figured out the perfect tagline John could use when Tripp made a big save-"and the little leprechaun snatches back his lucky charms!" Hehehe. Err...Tripp, I apologize, that was mean and largely uncalled for.

So back to the real world here...I could see one of two things happening.
Option 1-JR could do nothing and let Leighton fend for himself with guest appearances from Peters and Murphy as needed. This idea has some merit to it. The season is all but done (let's be honest here people-a MIRACLE would need to occur for this team to pull themselves out of the basement and we may have used up all of our miracles last season) and to make a desperate move to lock up a goaltender may do more harm than good. Why not let Leights earn his paycheck and prove whether he should be resigned next year or not? Is it really going to hurt our standings that much? FYI-we are in dead bang last so the answer is probably NO.

Option 2-JR could make one last ditch effort to get this team together and start their push for...29th? Ahhh...this appeasing the hockey gods thing isn't working so well for me today. He could trade for a current NHL goalie or bring someone in who doesn't have a team right now. Some suggestions-Manny Legace, Manny Fernandez or Kevin Weekes (JR LOVES TO RECYCLE!). I would still expect someone to get traded even if JR signed an out of work goalie. We are so close to the cap as it is that I don't think there would be room for anyone else (unless they are willing to work for delicious RBCC hotdogs and pulled pork sandwiches in which case-get them to Raleigh NOW).

Regardless of what happens with the goalie situation (Cam-heal like you've never healed before please) the rest of the team is going to need to step it up starting with the d-men. Cam will no longer be there to save their collective hineys and they cannot leave Leights hanging out to dry because he will fold like well...like wet laundry. And I think the D core goes the way of Timmy Gleason which leads me to my final thought for the day. I would like to officially endorse the Tim Gleason for Emperor campaign. Give that man a permanent A. Put him on the fast track for Captain. Heck maybe he and Sutter can co-coach the team while they're at it. (Thanks to Jenniwa30 for the picture.)