• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
News
Injury Report

Joni Pitkanen Injury Opens Door for Ryan Murphy

By Andrew Luistro September 4th, 2013

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The seemingly inevitable has apparently become official: Carolina Hurricanes’ defenseman Joni Pitkanen will not be ready for the start of the season. He will undergo a CT scan on Thursday to determine the extent of the progress, but all signs point to him still being on the mend.

Joni will have CT Scans this week. Rutherford said docs told hin it was more like a "car accident injury than a sports one"

— Chantel McCabe (@ChantelMcCabeGC) September 3, 2013

Not only is Pitkanen’s injury a blow to a defense that finished third-worst in goals against last year, but also one that will hurt the team’s transition into offensive chances. With Jamie McBain now in Buffalo, the Hurricanes’ production from the blueline will be nearly non-existent. Andrej Sekara, Tim Gleason, Justin Faulk, Jay Harrison and Mike Komisarek combined for just 10 goals last year, with Faulk scoring half of those. If it weren’t for Harrison’s breakout 2011-2012–an aberration–the totals wouldn’t be any different the previous year.

For a team that has a general lack of creativity among their forwards, Pitkanen’s absence could pose a significant problem.

“We’ll look at what our options are for a possible replacement for Joni, if he’s out a long time,” General manager Jim Rutherford said. “We don’t know how long it’s going to be that he’ll be out. Will it be a couple of weeks, a month, a half a year, a whole year? I don’t know.”

Rutherford could look to the trade wire, but the budget appears to be tight in both real dollars and assets. The ‘Canes can’t afford to keep gutting the system. His affinity over the years for dealing late-round picks for marginal players has left them with a shallow prospect pool.

And with the team approaching the cap–Faulk and Jiri Tlusty are due new deals this offseason–the money might not be there.

Ryan Murphy {Photo: Tabercil - WikiCommons}

Ryan Murphy {Photo: Tabercil – WikiCommons}

Enter Ryan Murphy. Last year, the 20-year-old made his NHL debut recording a -4 rating and 0 points in 4 games. Not inspiring numbers, but not unlike Faulk’s first few games. Murphy was going to be given every opportunity to make the ‘Canes this fall, and now it seems almost a necessity that he gets a long look.

While the two are different players, expectations will be similar. Murphy may get protected minutes at first, but should Pitkanen’s injury last into the winter, he may have to take on an even bigger role.

Murphy’s modest deal–just under $1 million without bonuses–gives the team the flexibility that a trade or signing wouldn’t. With many fans still clamoring for another third line forward, that option could still be on the table.

Expecting Murphy to jump from Kitchener to Carolina may be a leap, but it’s one that makes the most sense. If he does begin the year as Pitkanen’s replacement, it doesn’t preclude Rutherford from making other moves should the trial run not work out.

  • Tags
  • Joni Pitkanen
  • Justin Faulk
  • Ryan Murphy
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 11:15 AM
Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars Road Schedule Ravaged By COVID-19

Jan 22nd 10:55 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Riley vs. Riley, Family Members Faceoff Behind the Bench

Jan 22nd 10:45 AM
Nashville Predators

Predators: 3 Early Observations From the Young Season

Jan 22nd 10:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Backstrom Is Most Underrated Player in the NHL

Jan 22nd 10:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Kings Turn Tables On Avalanche For 4-2 Win

Jan 22nd 10:15 AM
Dallas Stars

3 Focuses for the Dallas Stars on Opening Night

Jan 22nd 10:05 AM
New York Islanders

Islanders Top Devils as Mat Barzal Continues to Grow

Jan 22nd 9:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Will Never Replace Joe Thornton in the Locker Room

Jan 22nd 9:45 AM
Chicago Blackhawks

4 Takeaways From Blackhawks’ Series With the Panthers

Jan 22nd 9:35 AM
NHL Goaltending

Sabres’ Goaltending Depth Exposed After Loss of Ullmark and Hutton

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information