Pre-Season Report: Carolina Hurricanes

The 2009-2010 season was a tough one for the Hurricanes, but a strong finish and the rise of a some young players gives fans hope for this season. Having finished with 80 points, eight out of a playoff spot, the Canes once again found themselves on the outside looking in. With a youth movement currently underway, the Canes have turned the page on a decade with many ups and downs.

The Forwards

With veteran Ray Whitney now departed, the offensive load falls back on Staal and a sub-par cast of forwards. Staal's talent and ability is unquestionable, but there's only so much he can do. In the offseason, the only notable move GM Jim Rutherford made was signing Edmonton Oilers cast-off, Patrick O'Sullivan. With 34 points in 73 games on a terrible Oilers squad, there should be room for improvement for O'Sullivan, given the fact he will get the chance to play with Staal. In fact, he has had a decent pre-season for the Canes thus far.

Along with Staal's annual 70+ points, the Canes will be looking for energy forward, Brandon Sutter to continue his development. The young centreman had a decent 40 points last season, and his ability to score in front of the net and create energy is something the Canes coaches and management love. With little depth up front, Sutter should have ample ice time to prove his worth.

If the Canes hope to keep pace this year, Jussi Jokinen, Sergei Samsonov, and Erik Cole need to step up their game. This veteran trio has shown in the past that they can still be effective in the NHL, but the Canes need hard work and consistency from this group moving forward.

Overall, the Canes forward lines are nothing to write home about. Aside from Staal, the team lacks top offensive players. Recently drafted, Jeff Skinner, should provide help in the future, but not for a couple years yet. Goals might be hard to come by for the Canes this year.

The Defense

Simply put, the defense, much like the offense, is mediocre. Aside from the offensively talented, Joni Pitkanen, the Canes have few dependable d-men. Tim Gleason offers some defensive stability, but Joe Corvo's dangerous giveaways are a liability. However, there is help on the way, with promising youngsters, Bobby Sanguinetti and Jamie McBain slated to make the roster this year. McBain in particular had some success as a late season call-up, scoring 10 points in 14 games.

The Goalies

Despite a difficult season, mainly due to injuries, Cam Ward remains one of the best young goalies in the league. At the age of 26, Ward already has a Stanley Cup and loads of experience. Considering the lack of depth on forward and defense, it will be difficult for Ward to carry his team to the playoffs, but he will give the team stability between the pipes. Providing he stays healthy, Ward can win 35+ games but will need a lot of help from the rest of his team.

In the backup role, the Hurricanes have Justin Peters. The 24 year old started nine games for the Canes last season, and came up with an impressive 6-3 record and .905 save percentage. Having spent the last two and a half years in the AHL with Albany, Peters has developed into a decent goaltender. With Ward as the number one, Peters should provide the Canes with what they need in the back-up role.

The Scoop
I hate to say it, but fans in Carolina might be in for another tough season. Although the Canes showed signs of life late in the 09-10 season, GM Jim Rutherford did little to improve his squad, as many others in the Eastern Conference did in the offseason. There are some good young players in the system, but most are still a couple years away from helping the team.

My Prediction: 14th in the East. The Eastern Conference is going to be so tight between the 6th and 15th postions that I think the Canes will simply be pushed down. I do love this teams core however, and I hope they prove me wrong.