Hurricanes Acquire Darcy Hordichuk's Rights
 

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the team has acquired the rights to left wing Darcy Hordichuk from the Nashville Predators. In exchange, Nashville will receive Carolina’s fifth-round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. If the Hurricanes do not sign Hordichuk, who is an unrestricted free agent, prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, Carolina will receive Nashville’s fifth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Hordichuk, 27, completed his seventh NHL season in 2007-08, totaling one goal and two assists (3 points) and 60 penalty minutes in 45 games played for the Predators. A native of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, he also played in five of the Predators’ six playoff games, totaling two penalty minutes.

Hordichuk (6’1’’, 215 lbs.) earned career highs in games played (74), goals (7), assists (6), points (13) and penalty minutes (163) during the 2005-06 season with Nashville, leading the Predators in penalty minutes (163) and hits (150). Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he has played 302 career NHL games with Atlanta, Phoenix, Florida and Nashville, totaling 13 goals and 13 assists (26 points) and 747 penalty minutes.

Go get em in the east Hordi!

And if the Lightning re-sign Andre Roy, i'm sure a lot of fight fans are going to enjoy the Southeast division. Or just the chance to see Hordi take it to Brashear.

But where does this leave Gillies and Brookbank? Strange deal....tho not surprising. Nashville are a bunch of idots.

Great to have Hordichuk back in the east coast!! :cool:

Well now that you put it that way. Oi, i'm not getting a good feeling from this trade. Probably because I have a feeling that no one will sign him, as he isn't the 'NHL tough guy' that others appear to be considered as.

Watch for Darcy to go somewhere else before the 08-09 season. Maybe a team like Atlanta.

Maybe the canes r going to surprise everyone and have a tough team.

If we end up with Hordichuk, it will all but make my season. Losing Brookbank wouldn't hurt half as much with Darcy suiting up in a Canes uniform. Either way looks like Carolina is serious about the bigger 4th line and adding toughness.
From what I read in the Albany paper, they are expecting Gillies back on the Rats roster, but Rutherford might suprise everyone and carry two enforcer types.

They wouldn't trade for him if they didn't have the intentions of signing him. I'd be pretty shocked if Hordi doesn't sign with them...it's not like he has that many chips to bargain with.

Ehh. I wouldn't count your chickens before they hatch. Trevor Gillies would have made the squad out of camp before his injuries took over. Brookbank was the afterthought, but Laviolette liked the semi-veteran presence he brought. He didn't do anything stupid (which Hordichuk is known to do) and did everything that was asked of him. Hell, during the stretch where our power play hit the toilet we even put Brooks in front of the net a la Brashear in Washington and Laraque at times in Phoenix. However Rutherford spoke of Gillies importance to the kids in Albany at his signing. So if he does not make the team, he'll be an important leadership piece in Albany. Also, the deal says that if we can't get Hordi signed by the 1st we'll get Nashville's 5th pick in the 2010 draft.

Still, Hordichuk is a better hockey player than either Gillies or Brookbank and Laviolette wants to move to a speedy, skilled set of top 9's with muscle on the 4th to protect them and just not roll the lines. He also likes to play 7 d-men when possible so an empty fourth line would suit itself to having an enforcer-type presence. Pretty intriguing deal as having Gillies, Brookbank, and Hordichuk on the team makes it the toughest incarnation since the Grim Reaper's time here. If Hordichuk signs before the 1st, I'd say he's on the team, Gillies is in Albany, and Brookbank is an FA. Canes13, agree or disagree?

Fukkin Poile :angry:

The bigger news here, hockey-wise anyways, is resigning Gleason. At $11 million over 4 years, that is an absolute steal. He is the building block of our defense and makes the loss of Jack Johnson a little more palpable.

I'm happy hordichuk's back in the east so I'll get to see him play more often. It looks like Gillies won't be seeing much time at the NHL level in Carolina, and Brookbank may get shut out as well. I think 2 of them at a time in that lineup is a longshot.

I wonder what Carolinas intentions are with Hordi? Darcy should sign.

David Poile had offered Hordi a 2 year deal last year, and tried to re-sign him this year. Its not Nashville not wanting Hordichuk. Its Nashville and Hordichuk not being able to agree on a contract.

I agree, I would love to see Brooks stay but it looks unlikey, unless he picks it up during the summer and makes it as the 7th dman/LW. Thats if they think he's worth it enough to re-sign at all. You also have to keep in mind he was playing decent D in Albany so he could be re-signed to a 2-way deal, giving him a shot at making it to Carolina at some point. I would welcome Hordichuk either way, as little as it is he has more upside than Brookbank or Gillies, and has enough credit over the years to keep guys honest with him on the bench.

Great trade for the Hurricanes, Hordi does his job very well and won't cost his team any being out there on a regular shift.