SCOTT DARLING WAIVED BY THE CANES

Scott Darling (Carolina Hurricanes)

Harper Cotie

Late Thursday morning, Scott Darling’s time with the Carolina Hurricanes came to an end, for now. It has been a horrible start to the season for Darling, who was out for a large chunk of games at the start of year with a lower-body injury. In seven starts, he has a record of 2-4-1, with a 3.14 goals against and an .892 save percentage.

For the most part this season, Carolina’s crease has been occupied by former Detroit Red Wing Petr Mrazek, and former Toronto Maple Leaf Curtis McElhinney, during Darling’s lengthy absence. McElhinney in particular has been excellent so far for this season. He is 7-2-0, with a 2.12 goals against and a .930 save percentage. Very impressive stuff from the 35 year-old, who was waived by Toronto at the start of the season.

I don’t think anyone saw McElhinney having this kind of a start. He was essentially a place holder until Darling got healthy again, but with the way this NHL season has gone so far, everyone’s predictions went right out the door. McElhinney is a big part of why the Hurricanes are over-achieving with 27 points in 24 games, and currently sitting in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Hurricanes had high expectations in Darling after three solid seasons of backing up Corey Crawford in Chicago. In 2016-17, the 29 year-old went 18-5-5, with a 2.38 goals against and a .924 save percentage as a member of the Blackhawks. So, he earned a big ticket in May of last year with the Hurricanes, signing a four-year, $16.6 million-dollar contract to be the guy between the pipes in Carolina. Darling struggled last season going 13-21-7, with a 3.18 goals against and an .888 save percentage, as the Hurricanes failed to make the playoffs.

This deal looked worse then, and even more so now. It’s no surprise that he cleared waivers with his $4.15 million-dollar cap hit, and is back with Carolina’s AHL affiliate the Charlotte Checkers. Darling will get lots of reps in Charlotte, in order to get his game back and hopefully make a return to the Hurricanes later this season.