2005 CAROLINA HURRICANES PREVIEW

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2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes preview

(MySportsbook.com) - With the Tampa Bay Lightning checking in as defending Stanley Cup champions and the Atlanta Thrashers moving up the ladder, the Southeast Division is sure to be a competitive one in 2005-06.

The only question for the Carolina Hurricanes is whether or not they can keep up.

The Hurricanes are in somewhat of a re-tooling stage, 3 1/2 years removed from a berth in the Cup Finals and their last playoff berth. They have one of the league's brightest young coaches in place with Peter Laviolette and several inexperienced players who need to remove the pacifier and hit their stride.

The Canes finished last in the NHL with 172 goals scored in 2003-04, and that was with the departed Jeff O'Neill and Ron Francis on the roster for most of the season. They addressed the problem by signing wingers Cory Stillman and Ray Whitney this past summer. However, while both have been consistent point producers throughout their careers, the team still lacks a big-time scorer.

It appears as if the Carolina brass is putting the onus on its young stars to carry the mantle. Eric Staal leads the pack of youngsters, which also includes Josef Vasicek, Erik Cole, Justin Williams and Radim Vrbata. Both Vasicek and Cole were key components during the 2002 run to the Finals, but neither has taken things to the next level.

The Hurricanes defense will be anchored by veterans Glen Wesley, Oleg Tverdovsky and Bret Hedican, while the goaltending situation is somewhat of a mystery. Former Anaheim backup Martin Gerber will get first crack at the starting job, with former first-rounder Cam Ward serving as his backup.

There are a lot of question marks for Laviolette and his staff entering the campaign. No Francis anymore. No proven starter in net. It will be an uphill climb for sure.

FORWARDS - Rod Brind'Amour takes over as Carolina's captain for Francis, and it's a role he is surely suited for. However, how much does he have left in the tank as a point producer. Once a 97-point man for the Philadelphia Flyers in the early 90s, he is now a guy who is more likely to post 15 goals and 25 assists, and you'll be happy with that. But Brind'Amour's value at this point is measured on what he brings to the table in terms of intangibles. He is still a premier faceoff guy and tenacious defender, and his motor is always going.

Staal is a player who will be counted on heavily in his second NHL season. The 21-year-old playmaker posted 11 goals and 20 assists as a wet-behind-the-ears rookie in 03-04, and further honed his skills with an outstanding season for Lowell of the AHL during the lockout. He recorded 26 goals and 51 assists for the Lock Monsters, showing that he may indeed live up to the potential of a second-overall pick. Staal has filled out his 6-3 frame nicely too, going from 189 pounds to 200.

Stillman hopes to bring to Carolina what he injected into the Tampa Bay lineup two years ago. He tallied 25 goals and 55 assists for the Cup champs in 03-04, totaling a career-high 80 points. Granted he was on a team that went into attack mode much more than others, but his skills are likely to benefit from the new relaxed rules. He won't be a 40-goal scorer, but Stillman can always be counted on for 20-25 markers if he is healthy.

Cole's best hockey was played during the 2002 postseason, and he has been a solid contributor since. He kept busy during the lockout as well, leading Eisbaren Berlin to the German league championship. Cole won postseason MVP in the tournament with five goals in eight games.

Williams and Vrbata are two players who the team will depend on heavily to bring their careers to another level. Williams, a former first round pick, showed flashes of brilliance with Philadelphia early on in his career, but has been an overall disappointment. Vrbata, meanwhile, tallied 18 goals in just 52 games as a rookie with Colorado in 2001-02, but hasn't duplicated that success with the Canes.

Vasicek is the one unheralded player in the group. In 03-04 he was the team's leading scorer with 45 points. If he is their leading scorer again, the Canes have problems, but as a complementary player he fits the bill. Vasicek is only 25, so his development as a player should continue.

Last, but not least, is Whitney, who joins his sixth NHL team. He hasn't changed towns so often because teams don't want him, but instead because he provides a spark that coaches love to have on the roster. The diminutive winger has reached 60 points in five of the last seven seasons.

DEFENSE - Wesley is now 37 years of age, but he still shows the ability to serve as a workhorse. He's no longer a guy who can produce points as he was early in his career with Boston, but Laviolette will surely take zero goals from him in exchange for the plus-18 rating he posted in 03-04.

Hedican, Niclas Wallin and Aaron Ward highlight others who are returning. All three were on the team that lost to the Detroit Red Wings during the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.

Oleg Tverdovsky was brought back to North America by Carolina after spending two seasons playing in Russia. Tverdovsky's playmaking skills will surely thrive under the new rules. The Donetsk, USSR native has scored at least 10 goals three times during his career, and has reached the 50-point mark on three occasions as well.

Also arriving is Mike Commodore, who made headlines with the Calgary Flames during 03-04 because of his Ronald McDonald haircut. Due to injuries on the Flames blueline he filled in, and filled in admirably during the team's march to the Finals in '04.

GOALTENDING - Gerber spent two seasons as J.S. Giguere's backup with the Ducks, and played well enough to warrant a look as a starter. In 03-04 he went 11-12-4 with a 2.26 goals-against average in 32 appearances (29 starts). The Canes have had stability in net in recent years with Arturs Irbe and Kevin Weekes, so they are rolling the dice that Gerber can hold up with a No. 1's workload.

Ward was the 25th pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and he got his first taste of pro hockey with Lowell last season. He appeared in 50 games for the Lock Monsters, going 27-17-3 with a 1.99 GAA. If Gerber falters a bit, expect this kid to receive an audition.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Hurricanes have done some nice things since the lockout, but offense still appears to be something that will be hard to find. With Stillman and Whitney in the fold as proven producers, and Staal ready to become a star, things may improve, but there isn't an O'Neill-type who can come through with a guaranteed 30 goals. Laviolette needs his youngsters to prove worthy, or it may be a long year without a playoff berth again.

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