'Canes are quickly becoming the punchline to a bad joke, the author of which is Jim Rutherford

I know it's unrealistic to expect any immediate results from the firing of Coach Laviolette, but last night's beatdown by the Penguins certainly added insult to injury.

While the boys came out showing some signs of life in the form of 8 shots on goal in the first few minutes, they still gave up the first goal. After 10-11 games of that it's getting difficult to watch that happen over and over.

I'm disturbed by other things I'm hearing. McCarthy exiled to the press box. Tom Rowe alone at one end of the bench, Francis and Maurice huddled together at the other end. It sounds so high school to me, but there it is.

The only bright spot of last night's game was the return of Justin Williams, for all of 13 minutes. Oh and all things Ruutu (except for the penalties). Rosey's still out there giving his all. He's the only player with any real work ethic I'm seeing.

And please, let Seidenberg and Gleason get healthy immediately.

Leighton's goaltending was horrible. Melichar was particularly awful. Corvo still has a way to go. Despite the effort we only managed to score two goals and immediately handed goals to the Pens after each one.

I'm hearing more rumblings about retiring the Captain, stripping him of the "C," benching him, trading him, all sorts of stuff. It's getting ugly out there.

Kaberle's injured again. I say he's done. Not that we'll get much for him, but I think it's time to get some people in the lineup who can stay healthy. If there isn't a trade by the weekend I'll be surprised.

Not that I have any confidence in our GM's judgment on anything. We could end up with another Anson Carter the way things are going.

So fasten your seatbelts, Canes fans. And harden your hearts, 'cause it's gonna be an ugly season.