CANES BOLSTER BLUELINE
Carolina
After a week long of negotiations, the Carolina Hurricanes finally acquired their man. Brad Stuart, the 27 year old smooth skating defenseman will join his new club tomorrow against the Buffalo Sabres and expectations are high for the new bluechip blueliner. The deal sent Rostislav Klesla to Montreal.
“Start is a guy this organization has eyed up for a long time,” said head coach Joel Quenneville. “He is a big body with excellent mobility, a big shot and an excellent passer. He has the ability to spark a rush and distribute the puck as well as anyone in this league and he has the jets to get where he needs to be.”
Stuart currently has 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points and those stats place him first on the Canes in defenseman scoring. He will likely see second line minutes for the team and play a vital secondary role to Chris Pronger the teams number one defenseman.
“Everyone know Chris is the number 1 defenseman on any team he plays for. He is that good. Brad will be used to compliment him and will play with Adrian Aucoin on the second pairing. Together, they will likely help add some much needed scoring from the second line. That is the hope anyways.”
Also acquired in the deal was veteran right handed defenseman Brent Sopel. Sopel, 29, is also a swift skating d with a bit of offensive upside and an intense competitor. Look for Sopel to get 3rd line duty with rookie Dion Phaneuf. Adding the speed of Sopel should help Dion relax a bit more in his own zone and help instigate better odd man rushes for the offensive side of things.
The Canes will toy with their lines over the next couple of days and hopefully spark some much needed excitement in the dressing room. The Canes take on the Sabres on Saturday and look for Manny Legace to return to the lineup after a mild injury acquired from the evil Islanders.
After a week long of negotiations, the Carolina Hurricanes finally acquired their man. Brad Stuart, the 27 year old smooth skating defenseman will join his new club tomorrow against the Buffalo Sabres and expectations are high for the new bluechip blueliner. The deal sent Rostislav Klesla to Montreal.“Start is a guy this organization has eyed up for a long time,” said head coach Joel Quenneville. “He is a big body with excellent mobility, a big shot and an excellent passer. He has the ability to spark a rush and distribute the puck as well as anyone in this league and he has the jets to get where he needs to be.”
Stuart currently has 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points and those stats place him first on the Canes in defenseman scoring. He will likely see second line minutes for the team and play a vital secondary role to Chris Pronger the teams number one defenseman.
“Everyone know Chris is the number 1 defenseman on any team he plays for. He is that good. Brad will be used to compliment him and will play with Adrian Aucoin on the second pairing. Together, they will likely help add some much needed scoring from the second line. That is the hope anyways.”
Also acquired in the deal was veteran right handed defenseman Brent Sopel. Sopel, 29, is also a swift skating d with a bit of offensive upside and an intense competitor. Look for Sopel to get 3rd line duty with rookie Dion Phaneuf. Adding the speed of Sopel should help Dion relax a bit more in his own zone and help instigate better odd man rushes for the offensive side of things.
The Canes will toy with their lines over the next couple of days and hopefully spark some much needed excitement in the dressing room. The Canes take on the Sabres on Saturday and look for Manny Legace to return to the lineup after a mild injury acquired from the evil Islanders.
posted by Lohaus at 3:38 PM
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