RALEIGH - The Carolina Hurricanes made another move this weekend which helps to solidify it's future with another bright young superstar. Unfortunately for their fans, they will likely have to wait until the end of the season to watch him play.
GM Norm Donovan announced on Saturday that the team had acquired star winger Alex Tanguay and veteran forward Dean McAmmond from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for centre Rod Brind'Amour, defenceman Glen Wesley and winger Erik Cole. While Tanguay is clearly the best player in the deal, he is currently out for an indefinate amount of time with serious injury, and may not play his first game for the Hurricanes until late in the season.
"Immediately, yes, this move is somewhat crippling," admitted Donovan, "McAmmond we feel can compensate for the loss on the wing left by moving Cole, but until Tanguay is ready to go, we'll have to move Vasicek back to centre. It's going to take some serious juggling, but we have every confidence that coach Quenville will do his best."
With Wesley's departure from the blueline, it is expected that either Bruno St. Jacques or Robert Schnabel will be called up from Lowell this week. Enforcer Jesse Boulerice may also see action with the pro team until Tanguay is fit to play, or Donovan addresses the lack of wing depth via trade.
Frustrated fans, however, are quickly abandoning hope for this season, despite the Hurricanes strong start. It is expected that the Hurricanes' already fragile defensive corps will have the guts ripped out of it over the next week, with stalwarts Jon Klemm and Aaron Ward already drawing interest from around the league.