head coach: Paul Maurice

roster: C - Keith Primeau, Sami Kapanen, Robert Kron, Kent Manderville, Jeff O'Neill. RW - Nelson Emerson, Kevin Dineen, Stephen Leach, Paul Ranheim, Chris Murray. LW - Geoff Sanderson, Gary Roberts, Steven Rice, Stu Grimson. D - Jeff Brown, Steve Chiasson, Glen Wesley, Curtis Leschyshyn, Adam Burt, Kevin Haller, Enrico Ciccone. G - Trevor Kidd, Sean Burke.

injuries: Chris Murray, rw (knee, indefinite).

transactions: Recalled Nolan Pratt, d, from New Haven (AHL); sent Pratt, Kevin Brown, rw, and Steve Halko, d, to New Haven.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Northeast Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
Boston        9   6   3   0    12   27   22 
Ottawa        9   5   2   2    12   26   21  
Pittsburgh   10   5   3   2    12   25   21 
Montreal      7   3   2   2     8   19   14  
Buffalo       9   2   5   2     6   21   30   
Carolina     10   1   7   2     4   21   33    

game results:

10/07 Los Angeles    T 3-3
10/10 New Jersey     W 2-1
10/11 at Pittsburgh  L 4-1
10/13 at St. Louis   L 3-1
10/15 Buffalo	     T 3-3
10/18 at Detroit     L 4-2

team news:

by Brad Kane, Hurricanes Correspondent

Yes, the Whalers could be bad, but they usually weren't this bad. It's tough to stay positive about a team that's 1-6-2. Negativity normally sets in around say, January, but it's only October and the signs that the Hurricanes will get better are not to be seen. Little to no offense being generated. A power play in the bottom third of the league. A penalty killing unit ranked 25th out of 26 teams. A goaltending controversy. A defense not living up to expectations. Average crowds of about 6,000 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Where will it end? Well, how about a trade...

RUMORS
Rumors are hot that the Chicago Blackhawks, about the only team in the NHL off to a worse start than Carolina, are looking to make a deal. The Hurricanes have been mentioned by more than one source as a possible trading partner for the Hawks. Names currently being tossed around include Geoff Sanderson, Jeff O'Neill, and Sean Burke. From Chicago's end, the likes of Alexei Zhamnov, Eric Daze, Jeff Shantz, and Chris Terreri have been mentioned. Obviously, Carolina's main trading objective at the moment is to find a new home for Burke. The 'Canes are looking for a playmaking center, something missing this season without Andrew Cassels, gone to Calgary. Zhamnov could fit the bill. O'Neill was to have been Carolina's 2nd-line center this year, behind Keith Primeau, but that little experiment has not worked. In fact, it's gone so poorly that O'Neill was benched for the Buffalo and Detroit games, leading to his name entering the rumor mill. Seeing Sanderson's name written in conjunction with trade talks leaves this writer with chest pains. Nothing that a day or two of binge drinking can't fix. However, if the rumors become reality and Sandy, like all good players that have ever played for this franchise, moves on, then even alcohol won't be able to stop the pain...

TICKETS, WHO WANTS TICKETS???
Much has been made in the national media about Carolina's attendance woes. After drawing more than 18,000 for the home opener against Pittsburgh, the franchise has yet to top 7,000 for any of the other three home games thus far. Read 'em and weep: 6,083 for Los Angeles, 6,352 for New Jersey, and 6,278 for Buffalo. So, if the folks in North Carolina are coming around slowly to this new-fangled hockey game, then where can the Hurricanes go to attract fans? How about Hartford? Recently, Carolina sent letters to Whaler season ticket holders offering them free tickets to four Hurricanes games of their choice. The move was described by Hurricanes personnel as a "good will" move on the part of owner Peter Karmanos to thank Whaler fans for supporting the franchise. So far, feedback has been positive. Many receiving the letter have called Hurricanes offices to inquire where the tickets will be located and to place orders. Negative responses are said to be few.

ROUNDING THE CORNERS
One of the few things the Hurricanes are doing well is piling up penalty minutes. In fact, Carolina is one of the most penalized teams in the NHL this year. Of course, this is one statistic where a lot is not a good thing. It's even worse when combined with the 'Canes pathetic penalty killing efforts. What's the problem? Well, according to defenseman Glen Wesley, it's the glass's fault. That would be the dasherboard glass in the rink corners at Greensboro Coliseum, rounded much differently than other rinks.

"Pucks hit the partition and tend to stay in," Wesley said. "You don't know exactly how it's going to come off the boards. It's sort of a read and react situation."

Uhh, Glen, how about cutting out the dumb penalties? Just a hunch, but that might take care of the problem.

WHATNOT
One of the Whalers' more famous fans, ESPN's Chris Berman, was on hand in Greensboro for the win over New Jersey. Clad in Whaler green and blue, Berman visited the 'Canes locker room after the game. It should be noted that the win over the Devils is the only Carolina victory so far. So, Boomer, what are you up to this winter? How about coming on down to North Carolina for a while? Say about seven or eight months.

Apparently, the fans in North Carolina are finding new and interesting ways to show their appreciation. After the win over New Jersey, fans showered the ice with plastic cups. "I've never had stuff thrown at me after a win," said Wesley. Of course, after those above comments, Glen, folks might be justified in throwing more than just cups at you.

Just how bad is that attendance at the Coliseum? Are you really tired of hearing reporters, both real and wanna-be, harp on the empty seats? Well, this just in -- the virus that's keeping fans away from Greensboro has begun to spread west. For Carolina's game against St. Louis, the Blues drew an all-time Kiel Center low of 12,530. Not only are they a bad home draw, but the Hurricanes are thus far a poor road draw, too.

Despite his team's miserable start, head coach Paul Maurice has received a vote of confidence from both Karmanos and general manager Jim Rutherford. Of course, having signed a contract extension during the off-season doesn't hurt Maurice's standing. Some national media members have speculated that Maurice will be canned to make room for ex-Buffalo coach Ted Nolan, a one-time Whaler assistant. But, given Karmanos's comfort level with Maurice, that's doubtful. Maurice coached Karmanos' Ontario junior league team in Detroit before being hired in Hartford two years ago this November.

Paul Ranheim, who somehow manages to remain with the franchise depsite his name being mentioned in many trade rumors over the years, has finally made his way into the lineup this year. Due to O'Neill's benching, Ranner played against Detroit. Hats off, Paul, you're a true survivor.

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