RALEIGH -- The Panthers are en route to North Carolina for their third meeting with the Hurricanes this season. Series is 1-1, both teams winning at home.
Few quick notes from practice courtesy of Captain FIU -- Pete 'Pete' Pelegrin.
Stephen Weiss didn't practice today, but Pete DeBoer says he's coming north with the team and is 50-50 for tomorrow. Rostislav Olesz still hasn't skated since injuring his groin, PDeB saying it's more serious an injury that first thought and he may be out for a little while.
Keith Ballard was back at practice after missing Tuesday's session because of a family issue.
More tomorrow from the RBC Center...
Weiss is irreplaceable
Posted by: Jh | December 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
it's pronounced.. Peet
Posted by: choochoo | December 18, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Hey GR, any follow up on how the meeting went between JM and Baltimore in Edmonton about Jay?
Posted by: Big Slap Shot Bob | December 18, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Giving Olesz a 3.125 million a year just proves how bad this organization is.
I think McLean has more points than him and McLean doesn't even have a goal lol. Olesz is a waste, he will not succeed here, they should have just signed Ryder and done away with the waste on this team.
He's making a lot for someone who never plays a full season and for someone who has never proven a thing.
Great sign JM.
Posted by: Brian From CT | December 18, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Brian I wouldn't argue on Olesz' talent, he is young and although he has not lived up to expectations I would say his signing for 3.125 million a year is a direct result of Edmonton signing offer sheets to Vanek and Penner. When GMs go out and make huge offer sheets to unproven young players it forces GMs to sign their own young unproven players for 3 mill rather than have to either sign them for 7 mill or let them leave. Penner may be a bust and Vanek a star, if Olesz is a bust it makes the Panthers look bad for signing him but if he becomes a star then the 3 mill is cheap. I would lay the blame at Kevin Lowe for escalating salaries of yet unproven players. If Panthers didn't sign Olesz and he went on to star on another team then you would be complaining Panthers let him go.
Posted by: Bo | December 18, 2008 at 11:05 AM
cant log in for some reason, but @ skate now...stephen weiss on ice, says he's playing....jassen cullimore not here, dont know why...more later...
Posted by: George Richards | December 18, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I'm glad Weiss will be playing tonight...and the other guys as well. Hopefully, Carolina will an honest game...cough cough. I understand Cullimore has the flu and Noah Welch will play in his place.
I thought JM gave Olesz a little too much money when he offered him the extension. Not an incredible amount but a bit inflated. Now, I really really think its inflated but that's only because Olesz has done nothing for us this year. Similiar to our goaless McLean. I'm not giving up on Olesz yet. However, if JM can trade him and save money thereby offering the same cash to retain JayBo or sign a better offenseman than Olesz- then do it!
Posted by: EJ | December 18, 2008 at 02:10 PM
I wouldn't give up on Olesz either. He's still very young and a solid defensive forward (that's overpaid...for now). If the kid can put it together on offense then he'll be worth his contract and he's show glimpses of an offensive touch at times.
Posted by: Big Slap Shot Bob | December 18, 2008 at 02:56 PM