Hurricanes Season Preview

[Hanna Sniper]

A Season To Forget
After a failed push for the playoffs, the Hurricane front office was left watching the postseason with a bitter taste. A team that had challenged for the Stanley Cup two previous seasons ago was now on a major decline within the conference. The season had brought many changes that the Hurricanes were slow to adapt to, most notable the division realignment. After years with hard core rivalries with the Bruins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs and Penguins the ‘Canes were unprepared to match the level of intensity that new divisional opponents like the Thrashers, Capitals and Panthers were competing at. Rather the gaining momentum ib the final leg the ‘Canes quietly faded away.

A New Guard Steps Up
The ‘Canes have named Mike Richards the new captain for the Carolina Hurricanes, a position that had remained vacant since the departure of Jarome Iginla in December of 2009. Robyn Regehr, whom also arrived with Richard in the Iginla trade, will wear the A along with with fellow defender Mike Komisarek.

The Kids Are Alright
The Hurricanes will open the season with two much hyped and talked about prospects making the team, as John Tavares and Brandon Sutter have both survived the preseason and will make the jump from the ECHL to the CPHL. Tavares had lead all ‘Canes scores with 5 goals and a total of 10 points in the preseason.

The Front Lines
The Hurricanes start the season with a major hole down the middle of the ice. With the type of game that Richards, Sutter and Steve Ott play there is no way that the three physical centers will hold up their Gm doesn’t bring in a 2md line center to relieve some of the duties. It’s expected that winger Jeff Carter will eventually fill the role but in doing so will open a voaid along the right side. The ‘Canes will also need bounce back seasons from both David Booth and Ales Kotalik if they are to have any success this season.

Number 4 Sean O’Donnell
Ya, it just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Well that’s pretty much how the ‘Canes matchup without a real puck moving, or even a true number one or two defencemen. The Hurricane defence is built around hardnosed defenders like Regehr, Komisarek, Sarich and O’Donnell. Either the defence is going to be a tough bunch to play against or opponents will be able to expose the lack of footspeed around the outside.

The Cristobal Run
After being chased out from the center of the universe, Cristobal Huet has found a starting role sharing duties with Pascal Leclaire. The goaltending position is one in which the Hurricanes have taken much criticism over the years despite the teams ability to post top ten numbers each year in one of the most overrated positions in the CPHL.


BLACK ACES



Back To The Future
The Hurricanes look forward towards knocking off the Pittsburg Penguins in the 2010-2011 playoffs in 6 games.

[Swayze11]

I really like this team. Last year you were extremely top heavy with some big name talent. I like the fact that you turned a few of those guys into 2 assets (see the Zetterbeg trade) because that is what you were lacking last year.

Huet and Leclaire has shaky written all over it. If there was 1 trade that you could take back I am sure it is the Anderson trade with me last season.

[MJK]

Excellent write up. I always look forward to seeing what you'll put together!

[Goffie]

Great writeup Doug...Enjoyed it all except the last paragraph which was complete !!

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

Huet and Leclaire has shaky written all over it. If there was 1 trade that you could take back I am sure it is the Anderson trade with me last season.

Na, I don't loose any sleep over the Anderson trade, I would still take Komisarek and a 1st if you dangled that in front of me again. I've never been a team with a true No.1 goalie... I really only see four big goalies in the CPHL that deserve the big dollars and I could never allocate 8.5M to that position unless it was one of those four.
Henrik Lundqvist, now there’s a guy I regret trading

[SweetDoc]

Well put together! Good luck this season!

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Goffie

Great writeup Doug...Enjoyed it all except the last paragraph which was complete !!

Typical small man syndrome, walk up to the biggest guy on the block and sucker punch him

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

Henrik Lundqvist, now there’s a guy I regret trading

That makes two of us.

[Mango]

Holy cow, Doug. Insane...and I mean that as a compliment. And to think, you're doing this without full use of your eyes. Amazing stuff.

[JiriHrdina]

Love the inclusion of the Black Aces.

[flambers]

Wow an awesome write up!!!