Jeff O'Neill and the Hurricanes mutually agreed to end the player's free agent tryout after Sunday's exhibition win over Philadelphia.

Paul Branecky

Index | Archive

O'Neill, still the Hurricanes' all-time leading goal scorer with 176 and second only to Glen Wesley with 536 games played, was released from training camp outright.  Before the Hurricanes and O'Neill agreed to the tryout prior to the start of training camp, it was believed that O'Neill was only interested in an NHL contract - not an AHL deal.  Apparently, that was still the case following a meeting with GM Jim Rutherford on Sunday.

O'Neill played in the team's Red/White scrimmage and scored a goal for the home crowd, but went scoreless after playing in three of the team's for exhibition games thus far.  He was likely passed in the pecking order by fellow veteran tryout Dan LaCouture, who remains in camp after playing in all four exhibition games and the Red/White scrimmage, where he earned first-star honors with two goals and an assist.

Best of luck to O'Neill.  I'm not sure what his intentions are going forward from now, but here's hoping he catches an NHL deal somewhere this season.

This morning's practice is about to start, but I'll have reactions and more afterwards.  Good news - Rod Brind'Amour, Tim Gleason and Anton Babchuk skated together prior to practice.  They weren't going full speed or taking contact, but none of them looked particularly disabled.

Update: Better news - gleason and Babchuk came out for the full practice, as did Matt Cullen and Ray Whitney

Subscribe | Discuss | Contact Previous | Next