Luke DeCock: State of the Canes Q&A

[garnetpalmetto]

Luke has posted a 4,000 word Q&A regarding the state of the team, the Karmanos lawsuit, and Luke's reporting on the team.

One interesting question - apparently he's been asked point blank if he wants the Canes gone. I'm still reading through but this should make some good Sunday reading when there's nothing better to do.

Click to read more...

 

[DaveG]

Some interesting takes there from Luke, honestly.

Also interesting that he named names, specifically one that was linked to us in the past that is expected to go on the market this summer, in guys that would get us over the hump.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

if the hurricanes were in the acc, luke would love them

wait...

there already is a team in the acc called the hurricanes?

i am #confus

 

[Sens1Canes2]

That was a funny (and long) comment by a guy named Doug Abrams that followed the article.

 

[bleedgreen]

Good article I think. I've never agreed with the Luke hate around here.

 

[TheOllieC]

A terrible hockey mind.

 

[tarheelhockey]

That was a funny (and long) comment by a guy named Doug Abrams that followed the article.

Doug Abrams has engaged so much with this organization across multiple media platforms that he has an actual personal brand as "guy who shows up in the comments section and says things that make sense".

He's done this apparently without any further agenda -- no blog, nothing for sale, no business interest in the team. Rather interesting fellow. For him to lead his response to this piece with "Essentially, under the guise of Question and Answer, Luke provides a rationalization for himself. In short, it is a series of questions by him, to himself, to justify his own opinions. The fact the N&O thinks this type of column is journalism speaks volumes." says A LOT about where Luke's reputation stands with the Hurricanes community at this point.

 

[NotOpie]

Good article I think. I've never agreed with the Luke hate around here.

Lord knows I'm no Luke DeCock fan and think he gratuitously stirs the pot to get web hits (and maybe for his own ego). But as has been said, he's pretty fair in this piece. I think he shows some short-sightedness with his discussion of certain trades, but the fact is no single player is ever a commodity that can't be traded. For the right deal, the right players everybody can be moved.

Still he's expressing an opinion and he's mostly validated what he's proposing. I think it is unfair occasionally, but he's often painfully right once we fans calm down and think about some of the things he's said in the past. That's a huge admission for me....as I rarely have given Luke credit for anything.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Doug Abrams has engaged so much with this organization across multiple media platforms that he has an actual personal brand as "guy who shows up in the comments section and says things that make sense"....occasionally

FTFY.

Doug Abrams does comment on just about everything Canes-related, but he's also made more than a few comments where it's obvious that his Canes bias is...let's say "over the top".

He's better than your typical Facebook/Twitter Canes fan, but that's not much of a standard to surpass.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

i genuinely thought abrams worked for the team in some capacity lol

 

[tarheelhockey]

FTFY.

Doug Abrams does comment on just about everything Canes-related, but he's also made more than a few comments where it's obvious that his Canes bias is...let's say "over the top".

He's better than your typical Facebook/Twitter Canes fan, but that's not much of a standard to surpass.

I should clarify... by "makes sense" I mean he sounds like he's speaking from a base of long-term knowledge about the topic. That's better than like 99% of comments section regulars. I don't agree with everything he says either, but his take is usually at least something worth considering.

 

[DaveG]

I'd say that's fair. I've interacted with Doug a few times and he's definitely clued in on a lot of stuff... but he definitely has his side of the story that he sticks to.

In this case I'd say he's kindof wrong on Luke on this one... while still not being wrong. I mean the literal purpose of this article is for Luke (who's clearly more in the know then basically anyone else out there) to explain some of what he's hearing and what he's said of the past few years as things have turned sour for the franchise. Thing is he also knows he has to defend what he's said over the time period because (rightly or wrongly) it's been interpreted as overly negative or critical of the team in a way you won't see in many other markets... mind you we've also been floundering directionless until recently in a way you wouldn't see in other markets as well.

 

[Roboturner913]

I don't hate DeCock (heheh) as much as many people do, BUT, this whole thing comes off totally self-serving. Did he really just have a Q&A with himself? It reminds me of Gregg Doyel's nonsense. He's forgotten rule #1 for his occupation - you aren't the news, you just report the news.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

I don't hate DeCock (heheh) as much as many people do, BUT, this whole thing comes off totally self-serving. Did he really just have a Q&A with himself? It reminds me of Gregg Doyel's nonsense. He's forgotten rule #1 for his occupation - you aren't the news, you just report the news.

I will use all of my Fortean powers to get to the bottom of this...

 

[Buenos Necas]

He could have easily embedded tweets with people's questions, would have made it come off a bit more authentic than the self q&a it appears to be.

 

[Caniac125330]

Doug's very knowledgeable about the Hurricanes, but I do think he's wrong here. He's also very in the know about all things analytics and is an arm chair GM extraordinaire, definitely worth a twitter follow. But here, I think he's off base. What most people seem to fail to realize is it is literally Luke's JOB to have opinions about local teams and share them. While his Hurricanes opinions may come off as critical and negative, think about it. This team has missed the playoffs seven years, and as has been pointed out, had no direction towards the end of the Rutherford era. Not much positive to say there. That being said, I do agree relocation speculation doesn't make sense, and I've actually got my own piece in the Technician coming out this week laying out all the reasons why, I'll post it here when it's published.

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[HisIceness]

If all the Penguins and Rangers and Bruins and Red Wings fans came to games that didn't involve their own team, then this team would sell out every game every year. But they don't and then have the nerve to call us bad fans.

If I suddenly moved to Dallas or Denver I would become a 10 or 12 game holder in a heartbeat.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

If all the Penguins and Rangers and Bruins and Red Wings fans came to games that didn't involve their own team, then this team would sell out every game every year. But they don't and then have the nerve to call us bad fans.

If I suddenly moved to Dallas or Denver I would become a 10 or 12 game holder in a heartbeat.

Not all of us former/current Pens fans are all that bad. I did exactly what you described - moved here in 2005-2006, originally planned on just going to the Canes-Pens games, but wound up going to a lot more than just that and fell in love with the Canes, then became a miniplan holder, then got up with friends to become a half-season holder.

 

[Unsustainable]

Not all of us former/current Pens fans are all that bad. I did exactly what you described - moved here in 2005-2006, originally planned on just going to the Canes-Pens games, but wound up going to a lot more than just that and fell in love with the Canes, then became a miniplan holder, then got up with friends to become a half-season holder.

I was a Pens fan (still do watch them) when I lived in Pittsburgh in the 90s, been a Canes fan after I moved to NC. I still have a Pens jersey.

If I moved to another market, I would follow that team and still have my Canes stuff.

 

[tarheelhockey]

If all the Penguins and Rangers and Bruins and Red Wings fans came to games that didn't involve their own team, then this team would sell out every game every year. But they don't and then have the nerve to call us bad fans.

If I suddenly moved to Dallas or Denver I would become a 10 or 12 game holder in a heartbeat.

There's only one way I can imagine moving to a new NHL city and not becoming at least passively interested in the local team, and showing up to a handful or more of non-Canes games per season.

That would be if I were a casual, bandwagon fan in the first place. One whose interest in the actual sport of hockey is close to zero, but who would put on my Canes gear and treat their 2 local appearances like a Homecoming game. And, if they were good enough, go online and make "rabble rabble" quality posts about them.

I probably AM that guy for football and basketball.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

FTFY.

Doug Abrams does comment on just about everything Canes-related, but he's also made more than a few comments where it's obvious that his Canes bias is...let's say "over the top".

He's better than your typical Facebook/Twitter Canes fan, but that's not much of a standard to surpass.

You mean, he's just like the rest of us?

 

[Sens1Canes2]

You mean, he's just like the rest of us?

Speak for yourself, I should probably be at least a personnel director. That's how much I know.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Yeah, I have a plan for the Caps and probably would for any local team if I could. They're essentially my number three team at this point because of seeing them live so much though I used to hate them. But not everyone is the same. It's much like the ratings sucking if it's not your market or a huge market. That's just the way it is for some.

 

[geehaad]

You mean, he's just like the rest of us?

That was exactly my thought in reading that. He would fit right in here...and I mean that as a complement to both him and us.