Breaking down the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of NHL Free Agency.
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 15 | Restricted: 8 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”car” season=”2013″]
Hurricanes overview
The Hurricanes are a team in need of new life. Despite having elite two-way centres Eric and Jordan Staal, quality offensive wingers Jeff Skinner and Alexander Semin, plus a Conn Smythe Trophy-winning netminder in Cam Ward, the Hurricanes looked lost for much of the 2013-14 campaign and missed the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season. In fact, the team has qualified for the post-season just once since winning the Stanley Cup back in 2006.
There is reason for optimism in Carolina, however. New general manager Ron Francis is now in charge and his first big addition was bringing in Bill Peters as the team’s new head coach. Peters was an assistant under Mike Babcock with the Detroit Red Wings for the last season three seasons where he primarily helped with the defencemen and penalty-killing units, two things the Hurricanes must improve.
With a handful of quality skaters to build around, a quick turnaround and a playoff berth next season is realistic, but only if Francis is able to make a few upgrades to this roster through free agency and trades.
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| Click player positions to see depth chart | ||
Areas to address
The team is reportedly looking to trade Cam Ward, which would bring back a decent return from a team looking for a proven starting goaltender. Or, at the very least, it would open up more cap space that could be directed towards signing a marquee free agent. If they do ship Ward out of town they wouldn’t have to search for a starter. Instead, they can hand the reins over to Anton Khudobin, who put up an impressive 19-14-1 record with .926 save percentage and 2.30 goals-against average in his first season in Carolina.
Eric Staal is coming off his least productive season since his rookie campaign 10 years ago. Adding another winger to play alongside him could help the captain return to form.
The power play has been dreadful for years, so adding a couple of pieces to help in that area could pay immediate dividends. The Hurricanes managed to unload Tuomo Ruutu and his lofty contract last season for Andrei Loktionov, but they need to improve their bottom six forwards and that means doing more than just qualifying their pending restricted free agents.
Perhaps most importantly, though, the Hurricanes need to stabilize their defence. Three members of their defensive crops are unrestricted free agents, including Joni Pitkanen who is still recovering from a serious heel injury. Not only do they need another stay-at-home defenceman or two, but a quality power-play quarterback would help boost their woeful special teams.
Possible signing targets
Ryan Callahan (RW): He’d be pricey but would fit in perfectly alongside either Staal brother on one of the top two lines. | UPDATE: Callahan re-signs with Lightning
Nikolai Kulemin (LW): Could gel nicely with fellow Russians Semin and Loktionov.
Dan Boyle (D): A proven power-play quarterback that would add a calming presence on the back end.
Dominic Moore (C): He does all the little things right and leads by example. Could really help their bottom six.
Joni Pitkanen (D): If he’s healthy, he’s effective and they need all the help they can get on the blue line.
NHL Free Agency needs: Full list for all 30 NHL teams
