September 7, 2010 | Story by: Community Contributor | Categories: Canes, Featured, News, Sports
by Mark Ratcliff
Cary, N.C. – Throughout the upcoming hockey season, we plan to bring you highlights of Carolina Hurricanes hockey – game highlights, player profiles and events. We plan on roaming the parking lot “tailgates” before games to capture Cary Canes fans in pictures and print. Where else is there tailgating before a hockey game?
We’ll just call this our first inSTAALment.
A Team Built Around Staal
With the first day of fall right around the corner, hockey fans in Cary are no doubt excited about the upcoming NHL season and their Carolina Hurricanes. In one of the most unpredictable off-seasons in team history, the Canes waived goodbye to the legendary Rod Brind’Amour, who announced his retirement in late June, and veteran winger Ray Whitney, who signed with the Phoenix Coyotes as an unrestricted free agent. However, Eric Staal headlines a roster that is still loaded with young, talented players like Brandon Sutter, Jussi Jokinen, and Tuomo Ruutu. Head Coach Paul Maurice must also be pleased that key veterans like scoring winger Erik Cole, defenseman Tim Gleason, and goalie Cam Ward are all healthy again after missing significant time last season due to injuries.
Defense
The keys to the Hurricanes’ success this year will be staying healthy and playing good hockey on a consistent basis. Fans remember last year’s 14-game winless streak and how it essentially crippled the season. One way to avoid such fiascos this season is to tighten up a defense that gave up 256 goals last year.
Offense
On offense Canes fans would love another 30-goal season out of Jussi Jokinen, who had scored only 23 in the previous two seasons. Team chemistry will also be vital to making a playoff run this season. With the changing of the guard will come an adjustment period that will be necessary for each new player to establish a role on the team.
Forecast
Getting off to a quick start is essential this season if the Canes hope to improve in a tightly competitive Eastern Conference. With the departure of key veterans and a roster of young, untested talent, there is a tough road ahead for the Canes. However, if they do make the playoffs, there is reason to be excited. Although the Hurricanes have only made the playoffs twice in the last seven years, they tend to hang around when they do. The Canes enjoyed a Stanley Cup victory in 2006 and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2009.
