RALEIGH - Hurricanes GM Norm Donovan in is the eye of the storm these days over his most recent trade.
Carolina fans are fuming over the trade of star goaltender Kevin Weekes for veteran Mike Dunham and a handful of prospects. Weekes, thought by many to be the team's most valuable player this season, has been an essential part of the Hurricanes miraculous success. He, along with everyone else, was shocked to learn that he had been dealt to the New York Rangers.
"I really was surprised," said the affable Weekes, "I didn't see that coming at all. I knew I was being shopped in the pre-season, but I assumed that with the way that I was playing and the direction the team was going in that I'd be there for the long haul."
Although he says he will miss playing in Carolina, Weekes was optimistic about his new team. "I think the management here has really worked hard to put together a contender and I'm happy for the opportunity to be here."
In Carolina, however, the mood is considerably less optimistic. Dunham, in his first game for the Hurricanes on home ice, was chased from the net in an 8-3 romp by the Florida Panthers after letting in 5 goals on only 12 shots. It was an embarassing loss all around, but it was Dunham who bore the brunt of the fans' aggression, being booed after every goal and pelted with plastic cups as he headed for the dressing room.
"That wasn't fair of the fans," fumed Donovan after the game, "Mike was thrown into a very difficult situation given Kevin's popularity here and had a bad game. It happens to everyone. Kevin had a game which was just as bad earlier in the season."
Clearly, however, the consensus is that the Hurricanes' dreams of the post-season are lessened with Dunham between the pipes. Donovan is apparently already putting out feelers looking for an upgrade in net, but time will tell if a deal can be made in time to salvage their promising season.