Anton Babchuk News

Hockey: Duhatschek Weekly notebook: The NHL's slow starters Eric Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes only have two wins in their first eight games and are averaging less than three goals a game.

The Anton Babchuk saga apparently has come to an end -- for this season. While neither Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford nor Babchuk's agent could completely confirm it Sunday, there were media reports out of Russia that the defenseman will play for Avangard Omsk of the Continental Hockey League this season.

"The thunder rolls, and the lightning flashes. Dark, menacing storm clouds lurk overhead...a torrential downpour of rain begins to pour from the sky.

As he enters his ninth season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Niclas Wallin has seen a lot of fellow defensemen come and go.

No team in the NHL had more power-play opportunities last season than the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Tuesday he hopes to complete a trade involving defenseman Anton Babchuk by the end of the week.

When the NHL free-agent signing period began in July, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said there would still be good players available in August, perhaps at bargain prices.

Exit Anton Babchuk and Dennis Seidenberg. Enter Aaron Ward and Andrew Alberts. Question: Do the changes on defense leave the Hurricanes better equipped to handle teams like the Penguins? Fire away.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said the trade for defenseman Aaron Ward does, indeed, mean that defenseman Dennis Seidenberg it out.

This offseason, we have now reached the point where every team's roster has already gone through a makeover that will hopefully turn the team for the better next season.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Andrew Alberts, who had a team-high 157 hits and blocked 133 shots for the Philadelphia Flyers last season.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday he hopes to lock up restricted free-agent forward Tuomo Ruutu with a two- or three-year deal.

Erik Cole's flirtation with free agency proved to be brief. Cole officially went on the NHL's open market as an unrestricted free agent at noon Wednesday.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose has signed a two-year contract that will pay him $1.5 million next season and $1.9 million in the second season, general manager Jim Rutherford said Thursday.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford did not sound like a happy man Tuesday.

As far as the Carolina Hurricanes were concerned, Friday's first round of the NHL draft was about the dog that didn't bark.

No sooner does the hockey season end than another important season begins. The signing season.

The Carolina Hurricanes knew they wanted Paul Maurice back after he led them to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Carolina Hurricanes should make an announcement on the coaching staff in the next few days, general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday, and no surprises are expected.

If there's anything to take away from this playoff run, it's that Eric Staal and Cam Ward are the franchise players the Carolina Hurricanes thought they were.