Finally, Bayda has secure spot with Canes

RALEIGH -- Forgive Ryan Bayda if he's a little jumpy. At this time of year, there's danger lurking around every corner.

Even though he knows he's safe, even though he has been one of the Carolina Hurricanes' most effective players at the beginning of this season, even though he all but earned a spot on the roster with his play at the end of last season, nothing has come easy for Bayda in the NHL.

The difference this fall is that he's not going anywhere. He's in Carolina to stay.

"It's kind of nice to fly under the radar a little bit and go about my business and not worry about it too much," Bayda said this week.

Two years ago, Bayda made the Hurricanes' roster out of training camp, only to end up in the minors with Albany of the American Hockey League before the season even started when the Canes acquired center Eric Belanger in the Jack Johnson trade.

Last year, Bayda again made the team out of camp, only to end up back in Albany after playing in only one game. And then last spring, it looked like Bayda might not even get that chance.

Despite his gritty play down the stretch -- the Bayda-Keith Aucoin-Scott Walker line was Carolina's most consistent over the final two months of the season -- general manager Jim Rutherford said 5-foot-11 Bayda and 5-9 Aucoin might not be retained as the Canes looked to get bigger on their fourth line.

Aucoin ended up signing with the Washington Capitals. Bayda, after waiting three months, ended up not only with a contract offer from the Hurricanes but one with no minor league salary. In other words, a full-season pass to the NHL.

"I've battled around for six or seven years, being in the minors or being the last cut," Bayda said. "I guess it has been a long time, but now I'm here and I'm excited and all the hard work I've put in over the years put me in the position I'm in now."

As the 3-1-1 Hurricanes prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight, Bayda is off the Albany shuttle for good. His bags are permanently unpacked for the winter.

"Based on how he's played, I don't believe at any time he should have that concern with us," Rutherford said.

It's another chapter in Bayda's long story of persistence. A third-round draft pick who scored 61 goals in three seasons at North Dakota, he was expected to be a goal-scorer in the NHL. It didn't quite work out that way.

In 69 NHL games over two seasons, he scored only seven goals. Back to the drawing board, Bayda recast himself as a gritty defensive forward while playing for Lowell during the 2004-05 lockout, but he shredded his right knee in the playoffs. Rehab took six months. The Hurricanes didn't offer him a contract.

Bayda wasn't done. After he played well in a half season with Manitoba (AHL), the Canes brought him back into the fold in the fall of 2006, and Bayda won a spot on the roster -- ever so briefly. If that weren't a cruel enough joke, the Canes played the same prank on him last fall.

Bayda ended up with the last laugh. When injuries ravaged the Canes, Bayda was among the AHL call-ups who helped salvage the season. He had only six points in 31 games, but his contributions -- strength on the puck, responsible defense, scrappy play -- won over teammates and fans alike.

"I think what happened with our injuries last year, with him coming up and playing so well, he deserved everything that he got," center Eric Staal said. "He worked so hard and had done everything they asked of him. It was nice to see him rewarded."

New contract in hand, Bayda was expected to fight for playing time on Carolina's fourth line. Instead, he has quickly established himself on a new, equally scrappy third line with rookie Brandon Sutter and Chad LaRose. If Tuesday's practice was any indication, he could even end up with some power-play time tonight.

Bayda has been around the organization so long he scored his first goal in February 2003, playing on a line with current Hurricanes assistant general manager Ron Francis and Jeff O'Neill, whose comeback attempt this fall fizzled.

They're gone. Bayda is still around. This time, you can count on it.