CANES ACQUIRE D-MAN

With the offseason rolling along, the Canes identified a position which was lacking on the blueline. The Canes sent out some feelers around the league and found a solid offer on the table from the Buffalo Sabres in Toni Lydman, the skilled, smooth skating defender.

"The offer came in that the Sabres were looking to acquire a solid two way type of forward," said head coach Joel Quenneville. "We had several discussions previously about who we felt could be moved and who we were planning on using. McCauley was the guy we felt would likely see the least amount of time and we, as a collective group, felt he was too good to sit. The deal was pretty much a given."

Lydman will bring solid puck moving skills and a speedy player on the backend, something that could be easily used with the departure of Carlo Colaiacovo in the Dany Heatley deal.


"We really felt Lydman would benefit us. Off hand, I would suggest he will be lined up with Dion Phaneuf, our young rookie. I could also suggest he might see time with Jeff Woywitka. He and Carlo played well last season and maybe that is the role I would want of Toni. Time will tell there."

The Canes latest deal also added an additional 600 thousand to the cap. With Jeff Friesen currently holding out, the Canes might have to shuffle bodies to make the room needed.