If you were to tell one of your closest friends, "Hey, you've added weight", you might receive facial reconstruction. But the Carolina Hurricanes take the phrase "adding weight" as a compliment.

Monday's trade with St. Louis brings center Doug Weight to Canesville and sends a message that the frozen version of Carolina is not satisfied with just leading their division.

"This is certainly a statement to everybody how serious we are about our chances to make a run to the championship," said Hurricanes President and GM Jim Rutherford.

Weight is a 4-time all-star and one of Coach Peter Laviolette's centers on the US Olympic hockey team. The fact that Weight waived his no-trade clause speaks to his desire to play hockey on Tobacco Road.

The 'Canes were criticized by some for not making the big splash in the free-agent market
before the season. What they did was sign great TEAM players who fit Coach Laviolette's system. What they have done now is shock the hockey world by trading for an all-star center who couldn't wait to join one of the NHL's best stories of the year....the Carolina Hurricanes! Who's snickering now?