NEWEST ACQUISITION HOPING FOR FURTHER SUCCESS
Carolina,
What the Hurricanes new was simple. Mattias Ohlund was not the answer on defense.
"We tried various combinations to get him going and in the end, Mattias did not fit in here," said head coach Joel Quenneville. "He played with practically everyone and we never seemed to find a fit. He is too skilled to be putting up an assist every 4 games. He is too talented, too expensive and important to be that ineffective. The time to deal him was now."
Enter Rostislav Klesla, the highly touted Czech Republic defenseman. Klesla, 23, is an impressive physical player standing 6'3 and boosting an incredible shot.
"Klesla is a guy we had out eye on earlier in the season," said Quenneville. "He has all the tools we wanted. He is responsible in his own end and he can contribute offensively. The real hope is he will fit in nicely with Jay McKee. Something neither Tverdovsky or Ohlund were able to do."
McKee, who is a Canes third year assistant captain, has struggled ot find a partner who can pull his own weight. While the rugged defender appreciates offense, the defense first attitude is something both Ohlund and especially Tverdovsky never appreciated.
"Klesla is a young cat and the hope for me is he will listen," said McKee. "I want him to think offense, but when things don't work his way, I will get mad if he simply quits on a play. This is CLUTCH, not some Czech league. We play both ends and I expect that."
The biggest sticking point on the deal was Klesla's enormous salary. At 5.5 million per season, and locked in at 4 years, Klesla is now the Canes top earning player.
"It will be an issue with some guys," said Quenneville. "5.5 is a lot of cash and at 23, some may figure he does not deserve it. I will reserve my judgement."
Klesla will get a chance to show his worth tonight against the St.Louis Blues.
What the Hurricanes new was simple. Mattias Ohlund was not the answer on defense.
"We tried various combinations to get him going and in the end, Mattias did not fit in here," said head coach Joel Quenneville. "He played with practically everyone and we never seemed to find a fit. He is too skilled to be putting up an assist every 4 games. He is too talented, too expensive and important to be that ineffective. The time to deal him was now."
Enter Rostislav Klesla, the highly touted Czech Republic defenseman. Klesla, 23, is an impressive physical player standing 6'3 and boosting an incredible shot. "Klesla is a guy we had out eye on earlier in the season," said Quenneville. "He has all the tools we wanted. He is responsible in his own end and he can contribute offensively. The real hope is he will fit in nicely with Jay McKee. Something neither Tverdovsky or Ohlund were able to do."
McKee, who is a Canes third year assistant captain, has struggled ot find a partner who can pull his own weight. While the rugged defender appreciates offense, the defense first attitude is something both Ohlund and especially Tverdovsky never appreciated.
"Klesla is a young cat and the hope for me is he will listen," said McKee. "I want him to think offense, but when things don't work his way, I will get mad if he simply quits on a play. This is CLUTCH, not some Czech league. We play both ends and I expect that."
The biggest sticking point on the deal was Klesla's enormous salary. At 5.5 million per season, and locked in at 4 years, Klesla is now the Canes top earning player.
"It will be an issue with some guys," said Quenneville. "5.5 is a lot of cash and at 23, some may figure he does not deserve it. I will reserve my judgement."
Klesla will get a chance to show his worth tonight against the St.Louis Blues.
posted by Lohaus at 10:28 AM
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