It's Hurricanes day at Hockey Feed!

Follow Hurricanes Feed for all the latest Carolina Hurricanes news, rumors and analysis this season!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
It's Hurricanes day at Hockey Feed!
KEYSTONE PRESS

As part of our Countdown to Puck Drop series during the month of September, today we take a long look at the Carolina Hurricanes.

Eight seasons after their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis has spent the summer trying to push his team back into contention. The question now is, will his efforts bear fruit?

Roster adjustments in Carolina began in earnest in late April, when Francis traded the team’s third-round draft pick in 2017 to Chicago for pending free agent goalie Scott Darling. Darling was signed to a four-year deal, and the moves just kept on coming. On defense Trevor van Riemsdyk was brought in from Vegas, along with center Marcus Kruger, and right wing Justin Williams was brought back to Carolina out of free agency.

All those newly acquired players have several traits in common: veterans with Stanley Cup rings. Their role in Carolina is clear: set the example and help the youth on the roster prepare for the Hurricanes return to the playoffs.

If that’s going to happen, Carolina’s young core needs to continue to step up their game. All eyes will be on forwards Sebastian Aho, Elias Lindholm, Teuvo Terarvainen, Victor Rask, and defensemen Noah HanifinBrett PesceJaccob Slavin, and Justin Faulk, all of whom are younger than 25-years-old.

The ‘Canes came tantalizingly close to a playoff return last season, coming within 4 points of the final wildcard spot after a 13-game point streak that saw the team go 9-0-4. It was too little, too late, and the expectations this season are to play more than 82 games.

For a full account of all of the Hurricanes’ offseason moves and how the 2017-18 season is shaping for them, follow Hockey Feed on Facebook all day today. And if you’re looking for all the latest news, rumors and analysis on the team throughout the season, be sure to check out Hurricanes Feed.

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