On April 9th, 2011 the Carolina Hurricanes had a chance to make the playoffs. All they had to do was beat the Tampa Bay Lightning at home. The Lightning had nothing to gain from the win other than mental and divisional superiority. The 'Canes came up short and missed the playoffs by a measly two points. Over the summer, Carolina's management made a few minor changes - hoping they will be the push it needs to get into the playoffs this season. Out go Cole and Corvo; in come Kaberle, Stewart, Brent and Ponikarovsky.
On offense, Cole is going to be a serious loss. Luckily, the team still has Staal for five more years. He has a large cap hit but for good reason. Staal is a great, all-around hockey player with all of the skills that make a star. Playing in a fairly small market, he doesn't quite get the attention he deserves. Although the video above only highlights his offensive accomplishments, he is also incredibly responsible in his own zone. Skinner won the Calder Trophy last season and is ready to avoid the sophomore slump. There is not a better player at his age (19) in the NHL. This is a very gifted individual who will continue to drop jaws throughout his career. After Staal's $8.25 million cap hit, next on the list is Ruutu at $3.8 million. Ruutu plays well alongside the stars on this team providing the all-important toughness factor. He should be counted on for at least 50 points next season. Jokinen is another underappreciated player in the league. The guy has unbelievable vision with the puck and sets up his teammates countless times. Add to this a darn good shot and you have a recipe for a valuable forward. Sutter is turning into a very reliable center and at 22, I expect even bigger things from him going forward. I would say he returns to his 40-point form. Larose is a consistent producer for this team, but his defensive play must improve. He does drive hard to the net which any coach would appreciate. In Los Angeles this past season, Ponikarovsky struggled in a new environment. The organization is hoping for higher results with a different cast. I'm putting his production at around 35-40 points. Stewart is another newcomer. He played well for both Chicago and Atlanta which makes me wonder why those teams didn't retain him. Tlusty, Brent, Dwyer, Bowman and Samson round out the rest of the offense. Of these players, Tlusty has the most NHL experience and he's only 23. He'll probably play the majority of the minutes between these players. Dwyer is a tad older at 28, but still brings a ton of determination with him. Look for Bowman, Brent and Samson to get some ice time this season, especially if the team struggles early. Fortunately for Carolina, their top six forwards are very competitive, otherwise the offense would be in trouble.
Offensive Score: B-
Over the summer, the Hurricanes made two moves to lock-up their top defensemen. One was an internal resigning of Pitkanen. The other was an external acquisition of Kaberle. Both signed three year deals - $4.5 and $4.25 million a year respectively. Pitkanen is a very skilled offensive defenseman usually counted on to quarterback the power play. He's also a very consistent player, good for around 40 point almost every season. After some convincing from his brother, Kaberle decided on Carolina as his new destination. I used to love watching this guy play in Toronto. Suddenly at the end of his tenure in Canada and continuing into his play in Boston, Kaberle has been less than impressive. However; he is still a skilled, puck-moving defenseman who is extremely reliable in his own zone. Allen was acquired from the Panthers in February, 2011. He is absolutely a defensive defenseman that should restrict the amount of time opponents spend in their end. Allen was signed to be a shut-down defenseman. Gleason is an Olympian and I'm not exactly sure why. Don't get me wrong, he plays tough and throws the gloves when needed, but try convincing me that Gill, Leopold and Carle aren't better. Either way, I hope he has continued success in this league. McBain was a wonderful surprise for this club last season. In his rookie campaign, McBain produced 30 points in 76 games. We should see both numbers increase this season and I can't wait to see what this kid does. Joslin and Harrison will fight for the final spot, barring any additional signings. Harrison had about the same number of points in half the games for the 'Canes, but I don't know enough about either player to tell you who's going to win the spot. It should be fun to watch.
Defensive Score: C-
The Hurricanes have two solid veterans in the crease: Ward and Boucher. Since joining the league in 2005, Ward has been the poster boy for success. Aside from 2009-10, Ward has always had a winning record. He is the biggest reason for the team's successes. Boucher was signed over the summer to a cheap, two-year deal. He's been in the backup position before and will complement the play of Ward quite well. Expect big things from this 'tending pair.
Goaltending Score: B+
With some big seasons from a few players, the 'Canes could make the playoffs.
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