 Who would have ever expected that the Carolina Hurricanes would cause the state of North Carolina to become a hotbed for the NHL? The reality is that the Hurricanes have put a successful team on the ice since arriving there, and the fans have taken to the team with a passion similar to their love for NASCAR. While it definitely helps that the Hurricanes are one of the younger, more talented teams in the league, the excitement of the fans and Carolina's 2006-2007 Stanley Cup title have locked up the Raleigh area as a strong hockey market. Last season, Carolina gave their loyal fans something to cheer about for the first time since that championship season – finishing the regular season with a 45-30-7 record, and earning first playoff berth in three seasons. The Hurricanes quickly became the "Cardiac Canes", scoring late game-winning goals throughout the first two rounds, and upsetting New Jersey and Boston en route to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, it was then that the Canes met their match, when the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins shut them down. The story within the story of that series was the struggle of the Staal brothers; Pittsburgh's Jordan prevented big brother Eric from mounting a consistent attack and that is what sealed Carolina's playoff fate. After the strong season, the Hurricanes' front office really didn't do too much other than a bit of shuffling in terms of depth players in addition to working to lock up Chad LaRose, Tuomo Ruutu, Erik Cole, Jussi Jokinnen, and franchise goalie Cam Ward for the long term. The biggest outside move was bringing in Aaron Ward from Boston in return for Patrick Eaves. The strength for the Hurricanes is at center, where Eric Staal, Matt Cullen, Jokinen, and aging captain Rod Brind'Amour, give the team an abundance of depth. In addition to strong scoring wingers like Ray Whitney, Sergei Samsonov, Chad LaRose – the team's most dangerous player outside of Staal in the playoffs, Ruutu, and Cole, Carolina has more than enough talent for a very diversified attack. Despite last season's strong defensive showing in the playoffs, the Canes are without a truly dominant defender. Joe Corvo, Anton Babchuk, and Joni Pitkanen, are all solid two-way players, while Ward, Tim Gleason, and Andrew Alberts are all capable defenders. Regardless, Carolina does not have anyone amongst the NHL's defensive elite, which makes this a solid unit but not one that will intimidate anybody. Carolina also possesses one of the league's best goalkeepers with Ward, who is a likely choice for the Canadian Olympic team, and one of the best technical goalies in hockey. He not only was a human highlight reel throughout the playoffs, but has already experienced one Stanley Cup title, thus ensuring that the Hurricanes remain rock solid in net. The Canes are a very good mix of youth and experience; their two best players, Staal and Ward, are just entering the prime of their careers, and should both have really big seasons. The Hurricanes are deep up front and should score a lot of goals, while their defense is responsible in their own end. Plain and simple, the Carolina Hurricanes are a good hockey team and capable of making a serious run for Lord Stanley's Cup. Hockey tickets for the Canes at the RBC Center in Raleigh are going to go fast, so get yours and be a part of the NHL in the state of North Carolina.
|
