Semin, Staal apparently make Hurricanes a contender

Jordan Staal gets his jersey from Jim Rutherford - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

It seems that even Las Vegas thinks that the Carolina Hurricanes are better than 50-1 favorites - more like 25-1 now - to win the Stanley Cup in 2013.

It's amazing what offseason deals can do to change perceptions.

The team held two press conferences on Friday to discuss the recent signing of former Washington Capitals forward, Alexander Semin, and to introduce Jordan Staal to the local media.

Staal was acquired in a trade transacted just before the beginning of the recent NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh.

The young forward was in the area looking for places to live and for the first time since brother Eric, the Hurricanes captain, and he did an 'incognito' drive around during the early summer.

With many signings completed, the team still has some work to do and has been seeking to deal for a 'gritty' and sizeable forward with 'some hands' who can play alongside the team's scoring talent, and be able to deter opposing teams from taking liberties with such players accordingly.

There is much optimism and excitement in Raleigh as season ticket sales are at their highest point in a while according to the team's President and General Manager Jim Rutherford, and he intends to work with the team's corporate partners to help show their enthusiasm for the upcoming season as well.

It continues to be  hot summer in Raleigh heading into the month of August -  the beginning of 'hurricane' season.

Recent Carolina Hurricanes news on Examiner.com:

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal arrives in Raleigh

 

The Carolina Hurricanes officially introduced forward Jordan Staal to the local media at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday.The  23-year old was in town and took some time to receive his new Hurricanes jersey from..

 

Hurricanes' Rutherford did his homework in acquiring Semin

 

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes met with local media at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday to discuss the team’s recent transaction involving unrestricted free agent Alexander Semin.Sitting in front..

 

Carolina Hurricanes sign Alexander Semin to one-year deal

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C., that the team had agreed to terms with forward Alexander Semin on a one-year contract.The deal will pay Semin $7 million..

 

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Contract updates from the Carolina Hurricanes

Jay Harrison - Chris Baird, Baird Photography

The Carolina Hurricanes have been busy over the past two weeks.

 UFA and RFA signings are setting the course for a competitive training camp. 

More one-year deals seems to indicate that the 'writing is on the wall' to 'get it in gear' and show head coach Kirk Muller that you are big enough and strong enough to play for the Hurricanes in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Short-term two-way deals also keep the purse strings tight, just in case you need to go shopping for a little something extra later on.

As the month of July is drawing to a close and even with Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks taking place between the NHL and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA), the mindset for all teams and players is to be ready for training camp.

Carolina fans should expect a competitive group to come back in top shape.

Just look at the roster which has increased its height and weight averages during the offseason.

It may not necessarily be 'rock'em, sock'em' hockey to start, but expect bodies to be flying at high speeds with some goals being scored in-between one way or the other.

The way the game was meant to be played.

Recent Carolina Hurricanes news on Examiner.com:

Hurricanes extend Harrison’s contract, re-sign Boychuk

Following recent signings, the Carolina Hurricanes announced further contract transactions involving defenseman Jay Harrison and forward Zach Boychuk in Raleigh, N.C. on Tuesday.Harrison earns job securityHarrison’s new contract will pay him $1.5 million per season..

Carolina signs Bowman to two-year contract

The Carolina Hurricanes continued to sign players for the upcoming season as Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager, announced on Monday that the team had inked forward Drayson Bowman to a two-year contract.The deal will pay Bowman $600..

Carolina Hurricanes, Samson agree to one-year deal

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced on Friday that the team agreed to terms with forward Jerome Samson on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Samson $600,000 on the National..

Hurricanes sign forward Wallace, host Summer Fun Fest

Ron Francis, Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Carolina Hurricanes announced in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday that the team had agreed to terms with forward Tim Wallace on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay..

Carolina Hurricanes announce more offseason signings

By week’s end, the Carolina Hurricanes had announced two more signings to bolster its depth while preparing for training camp.On Friday, the team released terms agreed upon with forward Chris Terry who would play on a two...

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NHL free agency starts with a spark in Raleigh

With blistering temperatures heating up the entire Triangle area, the Carolina Hurricanes recently completed their Prospect Camp at Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N.C.

As free agency opened, there was quite a lot of excitement surrounding the offseason moves that the Hurricanes were ready to make.

The team struck some deals while making unsuccessful bids on others (see Zach Parise and Ryan Suter).

The trade market is the place which the Hurricanes are currently browsing and may reap some new acquisitions in the near future.

Stay tuned. 

Recent Carolina Hurricanes news on Examiner.com:

Carolina Hurricanes understand the power of two

The Carolina Hurricanes figured out early on what seemed to be the underlying theme for making offseason moves this year – ‘home is where the heart is’.The Hurricanes traded for and subsequently signed center Jordan Staal to..

Hurricanes sign free agents early, make pitch for Parise, Suter

Jim Rutherford, Carolina Hurricanes President and General Manager, announced at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Sunday that the Hurricanes had made three free agent signings since the Noon starting time of NHL free agency.The team had..

Carolina Hurricanes changing perceptions around NHL

As Noon came on Sunday, the National Hockey League (NHL) initiated its signing period for unrestricted free agents to agree to terms on new deals with their current team or a new one.The waiting game for the Carolina Hurricanes..

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Carolina Hurricanes prospects finish intense week

Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Camp - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

As Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes Vice President for Hockey Operations, described the wrap-up of the team's prospect camp at Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N.C.  he started by stating, "I don't know if people understand how tough a week it is."

Francis continued on by noting the 2012 group's positive attitude that it maintained during a daily routine that started at 7 a.m. and didn't finish until 7 p.m. each night for four straight days.

"There's been no complaining, they're still smiling, they're still battling and working hard. "That shows us a lot of character there," Francis said.

Some of what these aspiring NHL players went through physically included running the stairs beginning on the floor of PNC Arena all the way to the roof, completing a five-mile bike test and then running sixteen 100-yard sprints, all before working out on the ice for an hour during the late afternoon.

"They all did really well," Francis stated.

All prospects will now go home and take the information and experience they gathered during the past four days to keep working hard with hopes of eventually earning an opportunity to show what they've got at training camp.

More Carolina Hurricanes news on Examiner.com:

Learning to stop pucks with the Carolina Hurricanes

 

With temperatures staying above 100 degrees for the latter part of the past week throughout the Triangle, you would think that it would be a lot cooler in a hockey rink.For obvious reasons it is, but the faces of..

 

Carolina Hurricanes ready to shop during NHL free agency

 

The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to be active buyers during National Hockey League (NHL) free agency – the league’s annual auction of sorts.After negotiating a trade to get Jordan Staal from the Pittsburgh Penguins last week, Hurricanes..

 

Olczyk brothers working hard to impress at Hurricanes camp

 

Taking the road less traveled to prove that you belong is a challenge that many people take on in life.The Carolina Hurricanes continued on-ice work for their current group of prospects at Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N..

 

Carolina Hurricanes prospects hit the ice

 

The Carolina Hurricanes selected their new group of prospects last weekend at the NHL Entry Draft and without providing any time for them to even have time to process it all, the team put them on the ice in Raleigh..

 

Carolina Hurricanes select large draft class

Even while trading away their first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft that took place over the weekend at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., the Carolina Hurricanes are bringing in a large group of young players with... 

 

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