Dark Horse in the East: Carolina Hurricanes

It has come to my attention that the Carolina Hurricanes have clinched a playoff spot this season, and my first reaction, along with some other I know, was huh?

Since changing the name and moving in ‘96–‘97, because of stadium issues in Hartford, the team has only managed to the playoffs four times. And in the 2005–2006 season, won the Stanley Cup.

The Carolina Hurricanes finished 11th in the 2006–2007 season, and became the first champions since the 1938–'39 Chicago Blackhawks to have failed to qualify for the playoffs both the seasons before and after their championship.

The '07–'08 season wasn’t much better, as the Hurricanes finished ninth and missed the playoffs for the second straight year since winning the Cup.

And it feels like only a week or two ago that the Canes were sitting in 9th and their playoff hopes looked uncertain for this season.

The Panthers were playing good hockey, the Pens were making their way back up the ladder, and the Carolina Hurricanes looked like they were going to miss the playoffs like they had the previous two years.

So when I heard they clinched today, I was reminded of the 2005–2006 season where they went all the way to win the Stanley Cup. And after giving it some thought, I decided that this was going to be my dark horse for this year’s playoffs.

Of course, their record isn’t as great as it was that year (the posted a 52–21–9 record), but in reality it isn’t that bad this year either (44–28–7).

That year they entered the playoffs on a two game losing streak, going 5–3–2 in their last ten games. As it is shaping up this season, they are currently 8–1–1, winning their last eight.

They finished the month of March strong going 10–1–2, and have already won two this month with three left to go, against the last place Islanders, 10th place Sabers, and perhaps their toughest challenge, the third place NJ Devils.

But streaks aside, the Hurricanes have nine players (Staal, Brind Amour, Cullen, Whitney, Kaberle, Wallin, LaRose, Ward and Cole whom they got back at the trade deadline) who are still currently on the Hurricane roster and were apart of the cup winning team.

Those who are currently no longer apart of the team that participated in the 2005–2006 season were replaced by the likes of: Tuomo Ruutu, Joe Corvo, Joni Pitkanen, Sergei Samsonov, etc.

And comparing the players there now to the ones who were on the 2005 -2006 team will do us no good, because as you know there are a lot of things that you have to factor in (PP time, PK time, line mates, minutes per game, etc).

I will say that personally I do like the Canes roster and their chances more then I did during their cup run, with the exception of a few guys.

So this is my pick for the Eastern Conference dark horse of the 2008–2009 season. Will it be déjà vu?

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