O'Neill, others get their shot

Hurricanes looking to replace Williams

RALEIGH -- Justin Williams is out for at least four months, maybe longer. There's a spot open among the Carolina Hurricanes' top six forwards, ice time to be had and an opportunity awaiting.

But for who?

The Canes, who put in their first practice sessions of training camp Saturday at the RBC Center, will find out in the next three weeks -- if not sooner.

"Somebody has to step up and take over those minutes," coach Peter Laviolette said. "When you take Justin Williams out of the lineup, you're taking 18 to 20 minutes out, and a lot of different roles."

Williams' Achilles injury this week, Laviolette said, left "a pit in everybody's stomach." It had a big ripple effect, refining roles and available roster spots, and causing a juggling of the lines.

A neat storyline would be Jeff O'Neill coming back to take over Williams' spot -- the former Hurricanes forward both resurrecting his career at 32 and helping his old team in a time of need. O'Neill was back on the RBC Center ice in a Canes uniform Saturday for the first time in three years, taking a long look about the arena before practice.

"It was a different experience for me," he said. "There are a lot of good memories here.

"My expectations are to be a good player. I know I can do that. It's whether I get the opportunity and whether I take advantage of it."

Can O'Neill, out of the NHL last season, make it all the way back? Possibly. But it's also possible Tuomo Ruutu could join Eric Staal's line with Ray Whitney, and that Patrick Eaves could move onto Rod Brind'Amour's line with Sergei Samsonov.

If that happens, Chad LaRose could move up to the third line. The options are many.

"On this side, it's O'Neill. On this side, a younger guy," Laviolette said. "It's an opportunity. It depends who wants to step up and show they want it."

Eaves wants it. Traded to the Canes from the Ottawa Senators last season, he played just 11 games for Carolina because a shoulder injury.

"It's terrible [Williams] went down, but those minutes are available," Eaves said. "Myself and tons of other people will be trying to cover up for Willy."

Eaves, 24, wears a protective brace on his shoulder but said he is healthy. Canes' management believes the former first-round draft choice -- the 29th overall pick in 2003 -- has the ability to be a solid, top-six forward and contributor, and those who have been beside him on the ice in informal workouts say the same.

"We didn't get to see him play as much as we wanted to last year because of the shoulder," Whitney said after a recent workout. "I think he looks really good right now. Who knows? He may go score 30 goals for us."

Brind'Amour had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this past week to repair torn cartilage. The team captain was at the arena Saturday for treatment, and general manager Jim Rutherford said he might be able to return in time for a couple of preseason games.

"Rod looks good," Laviolette said. "We're certainly not going to rush him back or get him back on the ice too early.

"Sometimes with Rod I think it's more trying to slow him down. We just want make sure he's ready for the [Oct. 10] home opener."

One camp no-show is David Tanabe. The defenseman played just 18 games last season after an apparent concussion, and the Canes sought to buy out his contract after the season.

The NHL Players' Association filed a grievance, preventing the buyout because of Tanabe's injured status, and Rutherford said Tanabe was obligated to be in training camp for treatment. But there's a stalemate -- Tanabe is not cleared medically and at home in Minnesota -- and Rutherford said the issue won't be resolved until an arbitration hearing next month in Washington, D.C.

But the focus for now is on the players in camp. And on moving on without Williams.

Whitney said there was no sense "feeling sorry for yourself," noting the New England Patriots have lost quarterback Tom Brady to an injury.

"I don't think you see [coach] Bill Belichick and the Patriots saying, 'Poor us,' because Brady's out," Whitney said. "Obviously Justin Williams is a big part of our hockey club and he's going to be in four months from now, as well. We've got plenty of people who can step up.

"The competition might be good for all of us."