RALIEGH, NC – The Carolina Hurricanes ended their 2007-08 season with a feeling of unfinished business. The Canes were in first place in the Southeast division for the majority of the season, but it wasn’t until the last day of the regular season that their fate was sealed. They were not just out of first place in their division, they were out of the playoffs entirely. After missing the playoffs two years in a row, the team made some tough but necessary changes during the off-season to ensure that this talented group of players would make it not just into the playoffs, but return to the magical season of 2005-06 and win hockey’s ultimate trophy once again: Lord Stanley’s Cup. To ensure the path back to the type of season that they enjoyed during that season, the Canes looked to the draft and trades to improve the areas in which the team struggled last year, and made some minor coaching changes as well. While the Hurricanes were out of the playoffs, their AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats, coached by Tom Rowe, had secured a place for the second year in a row in the Calder Cup playoffs. Although the team did not advance past the first round, they played in a hard fought seven game series against the Philadelphia Phantoms. Along the way, the team made AHL history on April 25, 2008 playing in the longest game played. On a night when Rats goaltender Michael Leighton made 98 saves out of 101 shots, Albany fell to the Phantoms thanks to Ryan Potulny’s overtime goal. Leighton was named AHL outstanding goaltender of the year during the regular season. The Carolina Hurricanes signed Leighton to a two year contract to replace John Grahame as Cam Ward’s backup. Oddly enough, Ward and Leighton have competed against one another before in the AHL, not only as goaltenders, but on a night not so long ago in December 2004 during the NHL lockout. Ward goaltended for the Lowell Lock Monsters (the AHL affiliate for the Carolina Hurricanes at the time), while Leighton was between the pipes for the Norfolk Admirals (the AHL affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks at the time). During the game both players drop the gloves. Now that they are on the same team together, it should bring a competitive edge to both goalies and make them strive to be the best. If nothing else, they will have a fun story to tell during training camp. Back in June, Rowe was named an assistant coach for the Carolina Hurricanes, hopefully to help bring some new ideas to the coaching staff. Rowe was head coach for the Hurricanes AHL affiliate team for the past four seasons, which gives him great insight to the players that spent time playing for Albany. Originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1976 (third round), Rowe played eight seasons of professional hockey in the NHL and AHL. In the 1978-79 season, Rowe scored 30 goals, making him the first American born player to score at least 30 goals in a single season. Jeff Daniels was named as the head coach and general manager for the Albany River Rats after spending four years as the assistant coach to the Carolina Hurricanes. Daniels retired as a player on Nov. 17, 2003 totaling 17 goals and 26 assists (43 points) in 425 career NHL games. He has his name on the Stanley Cup as a player on the 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins, and as a coach for the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes opened this years training camp with 59 players. On Sunday September 21, the Canes hosted their annual Caniac Carnival, featuring an autograph session with select players, followed by the Hurricanes Red versus White scrimmage. Training camp will officially end on October 9. This will be an extremely tough year to get down to the Hurricanes final roster for there is so much talent to choose from. On the bright side, for those that don’t make the final roster, what is Carolina’s loss will most definitely become the Albany River Rates gain. Albany should come away with an extremely skilled team come opening day.
Contact the author at sue.cunningham@prohockeynews.com
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