Hurricanes Trade Rumors

" Peddie, the president and CEO of MLSEL, and sports lawyer Kirke now have some interesting choices: - Wait for the playoffs to run their course and see if any high-profile names become available. Should the Detroit Red Wings or San Jose Sharks go all the way, GMs Ken Holland or Doug Wilson might look to cash in elsewhere. - Concentrate on unfettered candidates, such as Doug Armstrong or Jim Rutherford. - Go after team presidential timber such as NHL exec Colin Campbell and sports agent Don Meehan and let them make the call on a GM. - Stay the course with interim GM Cliff Fletcher. "

"Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford hasn't made a decision on the future of coach Peter Laviolette. "Everything's the same as it's been," said Rutherford, who was in Detroit last week to meet with Canes owner Peter Karmanos. Rutherford said he'll soon start working on signing the Canes' restricted free agents -- like Tim Gleason."

"As another day ticked by Monday without a decision from Jacques Martin about his future, some NHL sources believed Martin was buying time while investigating the possibility of finding a coaching job outside Florida... It has been speculated that Waddell's first choice would be Peter Laviolette, if the Carolina coach is dismissed after failing to lead the Hurricanes to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons."

"In his state-of-the-team news conference Thursday afternoon, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford made it clear he had not yet seriously considered whether to make a coaching change. But Peter Laviolette's future is clearly on the agenda, and one way or another, it figures to be a busy summer after the Canes missed the playoffs for the second straight season. "I have enough information now to digest over the next couple of weeks and see what changes I may consider making," Rutherford said."

"Left on the NHL's scrap heap in January, Sergei Samsonov resurrected his NHL career in three months with the Carolina Hurricanes. An unrestricted free agent, he said Tuesday he'd like to extend that relationship."

"Brandon Sutter's junior season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League ends tonight, which means the Hurricanes' first-round pick in last June's draft will be available to play in the NHL or minors if the Canes can sign him."

"'Tis the season for trade speculation, so chew on this: Sergei Fedorov to the Carolina Hurricanes for a first-round draft pick... Yesterday, the Jackets showed up in Joe Louis Arena amid a twittering of speculation that Fedorov will be a Detroit Red Wing by 3 p.m. Feb. 26, the trade deadline. "

"Could Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford become a candidate for the GM post in Toronto? Rutherford is from Beeton, about an hour north of Toronto, and values the Maple Leafs tradition."

"Legality and necessity demand Peter Karmanos make Jim Rutherford fulfil his contract to the Carolina Hurricanes. But Karmanos' friendship with Rutherford would let the latter go to work for the Maple Leafs. Karmanos, the owner of the Hurricanes, said yesterday he would not block his general manager from listening to an offer from the Leafs next year and perhaps accepting, but only if his old pal was given the best chance "to do his job". "

"Since John Ferguson was fired just over a week ago, Rutherford's name has repeatedly surfaced in speculation about who the new man might be when team executive Richard Peddie and sports lawyer Gord Kirke finish their head hunting. But unlike, say, Anaheim's Brian Burke, who shot down gossip linking him to the Leafs with thick bluster, Rutherford is far less dismissive."

" And on almost every radio show, newspaper article or television panel debating the issue, Rutherford's name invariably has come up along with those of Anaheim's Brian Burke and Detroit's Ken Holland. "It's flattering that I would be mentioned like that," the Carolina Hurricanes general manager said yesterday from Raleigh, where his team will play host to the Maple Leafs tonight at the RBC Center. "There is no doubt (the Leafs) are one of the most storied franchises in the league. "

"The Hurricanes continue to be looking over Avs defender John-Michael Liles, an unrestricted free agent after this season. Carolina has made no secret of its desire for a puck-carrying, offensive defenseman. Liles, however, is suffering through the worst season of his young career, with two goals and 18 points in 48 games coming in. Scouts from the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Washington Capitals also were in attendance. "

"While the Canucks and Flames have had scouts following the Leafs lately, sources told Sun Media yesterday that the Flyers might put together a package to try to pry Sundin out of Toronto... Keep an eye on Carolina coach Peter Laviolette, whose Hurricanes are struggling mightily, leaving some NHL insiders wondering if the players have tuned him out ... Montreal winger Michael Ryder probably wouldn't mind being dealt."

"According to a report in the Raleigh News and Observer, the Carolina Hurricanes have Avs defenseman John-Michael Liles at the top of their wish list for possible trade-deadline defensive help. The Avs play the Hurricanes Saturday. Liles can be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and the Avs have some offensive defensemen in the pipeline, including Kyle Cumiskey and last year's first-round draft pick, Kevin Shattenkirk. "

"With Justin Williams likely out for the rest of the regular season and with Matt Cullen slowly recovering from a concussion, the Canes are in talks to add an NHL forward to fill out their top nine -- perhaps as soon as today. But the Canes continue to pursue potential deals for an offensive-minded defenseman, even if the price now is far too high."

"Boston GM Peter Chiarelli, troubled by his club's five-game skid, is trying to bring in a blueliner to support Zdeno Chara. The Rangers are trying to move defencemen Marek Malik and Paul Mara. Malik would be the most obvious choice for the Bruins because they have had him before. Another possibility is Los Angeles D Tom Preissing. He's being shopped around and it's believed both the Bruins and Hurricanes are interested"

"There has been a small surge of trade talk around the league entering this week, partly due to teams wanting to wrap up odds and ends before the holidays. The Edmonton Oilers, with Sheldon Souray and Dick Tarnstrom returning to the lineup this week have a surplus, with Tarnstrom believed to be available, Scott Niedermayer's return to Anaheim means one less job there and Frantisek Kaberle is a healthy scratch in Carolina. Joe Corvo could be acquired from Ottawa, but never in an intra-division swap with the Leafs. Toronto is almost out of cap space, so Ferguson would have to be creative in getting an experienced defenceman."

"If he were to be truthful, there's one trade former Senators GM John Muckler regrets not making. The deal in September 2004 was supposed to look like this: Hurricanes winger Erik Cole for Senators winger Martin Havlat. Straight up. It was a done deal, but Muckler pulled out of the trade with Carolina counterpart Jim Rutherford at the last minute, deciding to hold onto Havlat until after the lockout and then wound up giving him away to Chicago. "

" That hasn't stopped teams from calling. The talk is the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes are both interested in Joe Corvo. While the Hurricanes want a puck-moving blueliner, the Oilers are trying to peddle either C Jarrett Stoll or LW Raffi Torres to the Senators. Both were scratched Friday. "

"eteran forward Mark Recchi was placed on re-entry waivers by the Penguins Friday, the latest step in a parting-of-the-ways between the team and its former alternate captain... One team now not expected to make a claim if the opportunity presents itself is Carolina."

"The Hurricanes won't be dealing winger Cory Stillman. He has a no-movement clause and is a key to their success. "