Hurricanes opener not a total loss

By Alex Creammer
Staff Writer

One cannot script a better home debut for newly selected draft
choice Eric Staal. The 19-year-old phenomenon, the #2 overall
draft choice in the last NHL draft, scored two goals in his first
home game at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Other rookies who displayed outstanding form were Danny Richmond, an 18-year-old rookie who reminds some of Brian Leetch with his prowess on the blue-line and his phenomenal puck-handling skills.

Goalie Cam Ward has also been a bright spot on the Hurricanes roster. With Ward playing so well, and Patrick Desrochers looking to lock up the number two position behind Kevin Weekes, it looks like former Canes goalie Arturs Irbe is out.

Irbe is currently in preseason training for the American Hockey League.

“Jim Rutherford (the Hurricanes CEO) has been very clear on that issue,” said Hurricanes Head Coach Paul Maurice when asked if Irbe had a chance to come back and play for the Canes once again.

“It was wonderful to play with a 40-year-old all-star on one side and a 19-year-old rookie on the other,” said veteran Jeff O’Neill.

The Hurricanes lost the season opener 3-2, but many left that night feeling a lot better than last year’s horrible outcome.

With injuries on all three main scoring lines and even the tough fourth line taking an injury hit Carolina did not sell out it’s players in a Penguin-esque fashion.

No matter how bad it got last year, it was both classy and commendable what Jim Rutherford and Paul Maurice did. A lot of young prospects came up and received a lot of minutes. They prepped hard for this year.

To put the icing on the cake they got Staal in the draft. What a perfect interlude for a bright year ahead.

Carolina looks good to make a run at Lord Stanley’s Cup this year. Everyone knows they have what it takes.