Does Justin Williams Need to Come Back?
The 38 year old elephant in the room, Justin Williams has been quiet since his announcement to take a step back from the league. Not retire, but just take a step back. That opens up an opportunity for him to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes and return at any point before the deadline this season. The first question is, will he?
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That is still up in the air. There is no evidence that he doesn’t have the intention to return. He ahs been seen skating and working out on his own time. But he also seems to be a mainstay around the Raleigh and North Carolina region including being caught at a Checkers game. So it seems that he has the intent to be a part of the Carolina Hurricanes family in some form.
But do the Carolina Hurricanes need him to return in a jersey? His leadership last season was phenomenal and his ability to single handedly change the culture in Carolina is still underrated. But the Carolina Hurricanes are doing just fine without him. Bringing him back into the fold might force a forward into the awkward position of being a consistent healthy scratch like Fleury.
Honestly this question deserves its own article. Perhaps as the season goes by we will have enough statistics from this team to give it a serious answer. But there are other factors to take into consideration. Is there enough cap space to sign Justin Williams for what he is worth? Is he in the right condition to pick up where he left off?
Perhaps the answer to this question is a bit more complex than that. Perhaps Justin Williams is ready to come back to the Carolina Hurricanes in a much diffrent role behind the bench instead of sitting on it. The options here are practically limitless, for now the question remains unanswered.
Question for CC Readers: What Questions do you have for the Carolina Hurricanes after October?