Last Season: 35-31-16 (86 points), 6th in the Metro, 10th in the East

Considering where the Carolina Hurricanes were after the 2014-15 season, they made a significant improvement this past year; adding 15 points in the standings. Even better – at times they seemed like they were going to actually make the playoffs.

This is a young team. Of those expected to make the Hurricanes out of camp, only six players are over the age of 30: Lee Stempniak, Bryan Bickell, Jay McClement, Viktor Stalberg, Ron Hainsey and Cam Ward.

Led by 24-year-old Justin Faulk, the defensive group has four d-men coming into their sophomore seasons: Jaccob Slavin, Noah Hanifin and Brett Pesce. They’re building one hell of a core in Carolina that is a few years away from being scary good.

Jeff Skinner led the team in goals (28) and points (51). Jordan Staal chipped in 48 points. In his second season with the big team, Victor Rask netted a career high in goals (21) and points (48); it earned him a six year, $24-million extension in the offseason. Elias Lindholm tied his career high in points (39), good enough for fourth on the team.

2015-16 Season, In One Picture

Nothing signified the Hurricanes moving into a new era like the trading of longtime captain Eric Staal.

Did They Get Better, Worse, Or Are They About The Same?

GM Ron Francis knows that the team is in the part of the rebuilding process that requires transition of older players and putting trust in the youth that will bring future success.

None of that was exemplified more when the team traded captain Eric Staal to the New York Rangers at the deadline. John-Michael Liles was traded to Boston and Kris Versteeg to Los Angeles. Allowed to walk in the offseason were: Nathan Gerbe, Riley Nash, Chris Terry, and Ryan Malone. James Wisniewski, who tore his ACL in his first shift of the first game of the season, was bought out by the team.

The franchise got to locking up their future by signing Victor Rask to a six year, $24-million contract. Cam Ward took a hometown discount to return to the team for two more years. Joakim Nordstrom re-upped his RFA contract for another two years after a successful first season in Carolina.

Lee Stempniak and Victor Stalberg were the two big free agent acquisitions. They bring that good old veteran presence on a young team and can contribute offensively.

The Hurricanes were the beneficiaries of a cash dump the Chicago Blackhawks. For second and third round draft picks, they received Teuvo Teravainen and had to take Bryan Bickell along with him.

Last season’s squad surprised a lot of people for not being as bad as expected by many pundit, but they still have a ways to go to break the seven year playoff drought.

Five Most Fascinating Players

1. Raffi Torres. Technically he’s not on the Carolina Hurricanes, but he could be. The team offered Torres a PTO at camp. If you recall, Torres was suspended last season for 41 games (which he did not appeal) and missed time with an injury. He was traded from San Jose to Toronto at deadline. Ron Francis believes this is a low-risk option to give a guy another shot in the NHL. Torres says he can change his game. He’ll have at least the preseason to prove it.

2. Teuvo Teravainen. ‘IT’S TEUVO TIME, YA’LL!’ That’s the southern version of the saying made popular while Teravainen was a part of the Chicago Blackhawks. The forward had 35 points in 78 games in Chicago. At 22-years-old, there is a ton of potential for this kid. He just needs a team that will give him stead, consistent minutes each night and a stable position to play in (i.e. pick center or wing). Carolina might be the right place to nurture his talent into the Top 6 player he’s expected to be.

3. Bryan Bickell. The trials and tribulations between Bryan Bickell and the Blackhawks are well known. He was banished a majority of this past season season to the Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL) where he was relatively successful with 31 points in 47 games. At the NHL level, he had 2 assists in 25 games. At 30-years-old, he’s got a lot to prove if he wants to get an new NHL contract next year.

4. Jordan Staal. Everyone remembers the story that Staal came to Carolina because he wanted to play with his brother Eric. Now his brother is gone and Jordan has seven years left on his contract in Carolina (and a no trade clause). As the ‘Canes go through this transition period, it’ll be interesting to see how patient Jordan is with the process or if he gets antsy.

5. Sebastian Aho. There are two Sebastian Ahos; this is the Finnish one, not the Swedish one. The Carolina faithful are anxiously awaiting the debut of their 2015 second round draft pick. Playing for Karpa in SM-liiga last season, the forward had 45 points in 45 games. The Hurricanes are hopeful Aho and Teuvo can find some magic on the ice together. Currently, the 20-year-old is currently on Finland’s World Cup team; however, he’s only seen 11 minutes of action in one exhibition game.

Mascot Hijinks Video Break

Do enjoy Stormy, the Carolina Hurricanes mascot and tailgating meat, perform the actual dance to ‘Thriller’ on the ice.

Can We Trust Them At Even Strength?

Per Corsica, as a team the Hurricanes ranked 11th in the NHL at 5-on-5 score, zone adjusted CF% at 51.40. Not great. Even worse, two of the top three CF% players at 5-on-5 Kris Versteeg (56.36) and Eric Staal (56.34) are no longer on the team. Andrej Nestrasil came in third at 55.72.

Carolina allowed 158 goals against at even strength for fifth worst in the NHL. Conversely, they scored 132 even strength goals (seventh worst). Jeff Skinner scored 24 of 28 goals at even strength.

Can We Trust Them On Special Teams?

The team’s penalty kill was sixth in the NHL last season at an 84.3-percent success rate. Team elder, Ron Hainsey, led all penalty killers in TOI at 224:16.

The power play is going to need some work after finishing 24th overall (16.8%) and allowing five shorthanded goals against. Victor Rask (18), Justin Faulk (17) and Elias Linholm (16) led the team in power play points. Back on the blueline, 12 of Faulk’s power play points were  goals.

Can We Trust Their Goaltending?

Carolina’s goaltending may be based more on nostalgia and loyalty than it is trust.

Starting in 51 games, Cam Ward concluded the season with a 23-17-10 record, .909 save-percentage, and 2.41 goals against. Of his 10 non-regulation losses, five came in the shootout. At 32-years-old, he got what he wanted – another two years in Carolina but for less money.

In his first year with the Hurricanes, Eddie Lack started 20 less games than Ward. He posted a 12-14-6 record on top of a .901 SV% and 2.81 GAA. When the team went to overtime while Lack was in net, they lost each time. That could be more of a reflection on the team than the goaltender.

The team signed Michael Leighton to a one-year, two-way contract as a security measure.

Player Mostly Likely To Be In Vegas Next Season

Cam Ward. (He has a limited ‘No Trade,’ not a ‘No Move.’) Nostalgia can only last so long when it comes to protecting a possible goaltender of the future in Lack and a guy that’s best years are probably behind him. Look at it this way, at least Ward can wear his Stanley Cup bling to da club.

Coach Hot Seat Rating (1-10, 10 being scorching hot)

Three. The franchise has yet to make it to the playoffs in the three years since Bill Peters took over as coach. Ron Francis acknowledged that the coach is doing the best he can with the team he’s got. Francis gave Peters a two-year contract extension in the offseason to give him some security.

Prediction

This plucky group of youngsters probably need one more year to incubate together before they make a serious push for the playoffs. They got close last year but it’s going to take more than the forces of the Hockey Gods to get them into the promised land.

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