2019-20 Canes Miscellaneous News Thread
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Paulie Walnuts
Well-known member
Abby Labar moves up to take the rink side TV reporter job. I guess someone will take her spot as the in rink person. I'm guessing a young woman who looks very nice. 
I wonder if she’ll travel with the team or will just do the home games, like she did when Mike was on Injured Reserve. She has a full time job, the sideline reporting and in-arena hosting are part time.
I hope she rolls into Mike's old role in full and works for the team full time. Honestly, that's the only way they're going to avoid losing her to the ACC Network or Fox's regional college football network once the pandemic ends. I've said it before, but she's too good for a nickel and dime role with a small market NHL team to keep her here. Eventually she's going to move on to bigger things.
Like Chantal McCabe and Michelle McMahon before her...
One other variable on Abby...her boyfriend is on Dave Doeren’s staff. No, I’m not stalking her, but if you follow her or Sara Civian on Twitter...
I'm thinking Abby has actually got a better shot at a National career than either of those two. Chantal got ignored at NHL Network before landing on the Golf Channel, where I assume she does things ... dunno. I never watch the Golf Channel. Meesh is very good with the Big Ten Network and I think Abby could do something similar with the ACC Network in a heartbeat even this early in her career.
Hooking up with the ACC Network also opens her up to possibilities with corporate parent ESPN. Maria Taylor started out on the SEC Network and Laura Rutledge bounces back and forth between the two.
HeyKurtz
Well-known member
This is not a good look for the organization...
abc11.com
'I'll never get over this': John Forslund on life after Canes
John Forslund loved everything about being the voice of the Hurricanes. Though he faces an uncertain future, the impact he left continues to be felt in the hockey community.
abc11.com
CanadaCanes
Well-known member
It really should have been handled better, it is unfortunate to see how things turned out even if you do accept the fact that this is the way Dundon conducts his business. Forslund deserved to be treated better, even if the end result would have stayed the same. The guy was an ambassador for the team for so long and his heart was always in the right place when it came to the Canes in everything he did. I can’t help but think that some of John’s successes actually hurt him in the end here...the NBC work and perhaps his future lead dog role with NBC was a bit of a hindrance at times for the Canes gig and I’m sure Dundon did not want to pay for someone that was always romancing someone else on the side. The uncertainty of the current landscape was obviously the biggest factor in contract negotiations but I just wish there was a better handling of the situation all around.This is not a good look for the organization...
'I'll never get over this': John Forslund on life after Canes
John Forslund loved everything about being the voice of the Hurricanes. Though he faces an uncertain future, the impact he left continues to be felt in the hockey community.
ThinIce
Well-known member
Hockey is a business, but I'm still pissed about this. John Forslund has been an indispensable part of this team and the best in the business. It was Forslund that helped this novice hockey fan learn to appreciate the game. Yeah, I get it that it's Dundon's money and his to manage as he sees fit - and I appreciate his investment in on-ice talent. But this is a self-inflicted PR debacle and the Canes management deserves every bit of criticism leveled their way.
Here's your money quote, and it's short enough that I have no problem cutting and pasting ... Forslund said he'd never heard from the Canes front office after contract talks broke down, not even just on a personal level. He and his family have come to terms with the situation but that doesn't make it any easier.
And while I 100% understand the change from a financial perspective, this is not how you treat people. Period. Ever.
And while I 100% understand the change from a financial perspective, this is not how you treat people. Period. Ever.
NoMich
Well-known member
Players and coaches have all come and gone and sometimes have come and gone again, but Johnny Sideburns was *always* there for the Caniac Nation. He was the true face of this organization and I can't see how someone with more money than god can put a price on that. I thought it was a bad idea to show Chuck the door, but I also understood that it was probably only me listening to his call on the radio. OK, fine, I didn't like it but it's business. Even Chuck probably saw that he wouldn't be able to sell enough ads to support the income scheme that Dundon albatrossed him with.
Just reading @ThinIce's comment above about how it was Forslund that helped him learn to love this game shows you the impact that he had on the community and therefore on the team. Aw man, now I want wings!
Just reading @ThinIce's comment above about how it was Forslund that helped him learn to love this game shows you the impact that he had on the community and therefore on the team. Aw man, now I want wings!
SlapShots
Well-known member
That's exactly the criteria used in having Mike Maniscalco be the rink side reporterAbby Labar moves up to take the rink side TV reporter job. I guess someone will take her spot as the in rink person. I'm guessing a young woman who looks very nice.
Equipment manager Skip Cunningham, who has been with the franchise since 1972, is retiring.
Good on Skip. A true lifer.
CanadaCanes
Well-known member
Skip is a franchise legend...may his retirement years be filled with happiness and no more stinky equipment...however, his sense of smell likely faded years ago after handling and cleaning that many elbow pads, gloves...etc. My wife always said to me that there never was a worse smell than either me coming home from playing hockey or opening up my hockey bag!