Carolina Hurricanes 2009-10 Season Preview

I will be previewing all 30 NHL clubs. I will be looking at their available salary cap room, the additions and deletions from the 2008-'09 rosters, and where I think they will stack up in their division and conference for the 2009-'10 season. 

Let's get a move on with the Carolina Hurricanes, who are in the Southeast Division and the Eastern Conference.

The Carolina Hurricanes currently have 21 players under one-way contracts: two goaltenders, six defensemen, and 13 forwards. The salary cap hit for these 21 players is $54.03 million. 

The Hurricanes still have one restricted free agent to sign—defenseman Anton Babchuk. Once he signs, the Hurricanes will have a little bit of wiggle room, but don’t look for the Hurricanes to make any other major moves before the regular season starts.

Significant Additions

Aaron Ward was acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Patrick Eaves. Andrew Alberts signed a two-year, $1.05 million deal. Tom Kostopoulous signed a three-year, $916,667 deal.

Significant Deletions

Patrick Eaves was traded to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins then bought out Eaves, making him an unrestricted free agent. Eaves then signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings. 

Frantisek Kaberle was bought out by the Hurricanes and remains an unrestricted free agent.

Ryan Bayda, Dennis Seidenberg, and Dan Lacouture were all lost to free agency.

Prospects That Impressed in 2008-'09

Brandon Sutter

A member of the most famous hockey family in the world, Sutter is the son of Brent Sutter.

Sutter's on-ice progress was thwarted early in the season by a concussion that he suffered in an open-ice hit from Doug Weight. He battled extremely hard to get back into game shape and still managed to play a considerable number of games for the Hurricanes.

Since his return from the injury, Sutter has proved that he is headstrong beyond his years as he is one of the Hurricanes' top penalty killers and face-off men.

The jury is still out on Sutter’s ability to put up high point totals in the NHL, but his shut down ability, incredible positioning, and hockey sense make him at least a game-breaker from the defensive side of the puck.

Prospects To Watch in 2009-'10

Zach Boychuk

Boychuk was a first-round (14th overall) draft pick in '08.

He got his first taste of NHL action this year, spending two games with Carolina before being returned to Lethbridge of the WHL. Despite battling through some injuries during his 2008-'09 campaign, Boychuk had a very effective year.

The somewhat diminutive forward has exceptional goal-scoring ability for a center and displays extremely quick acceleration to get him out of dangerous spots.

In addition to playing with both Carolina and Lethbridge, Boychuk had a very good World Junior Championship tournament with Canada.

Boychuk should get a long look at Carolina’s training camp this year after his brief audition last October.

Drayson Bowman

The 6'0", 190-pound forward is a native of Littleton, Colorado and has become a dependable and durable forward for the CHL's Spokane Chiefs. 

This former third-round draft pick in '07 was a Memorial Cup All-Star when the Chiefs won the CHL championship in '08. Bowman is a speedy forward with offensive upside.

Jamie McBain

McBain is a strong offensive defenseman. He has good puck-handling skills and a good sense of where the puck needs to be. 

Snagging McBain late in the second round of the 2006 draft is looking like a steal for Carolina. McBain, who was the WCHA player of the year last season with the University of Wisconsin, will get a chance to challenge for a starting spot with the 'Canes this season. 

Recap of 2008-'09

As reported on NHL.com: Heading into the 2009-'10 season, there is one certainty in Carolina: Paul Maurice isn't going anywhere.

The Hurricanes' coach, who replaced Peter Laviolette on Dec. 3, 2008, solidified his job status by leading his sixth-seeded team on a remarkable journey to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now, it's a matter of Maurice, with a fresh three-year deal in his pocket, finding a way to build on the success the team enjoyed in April and May.

It definitely worked out in 2008-'09, as the Hurricanes flourished after the coaching change, going 33-19-5, including a 13-1-2 stretch from March 3 to April 7, under Maurice during the regular season before knocking off the New Jersey Devils and the East's No. 1 seed Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Carolina scored twice in the final 90 seconds to win game seven at New Jersey in the opening round.

The Hurricanes finished 16th in the league in scoring, averaging 2.88 goals per game. 

They finished eighth in the league in goals against average, averaging 2.70 per game. 

The power play and penalty killing of the Hurricanes were 18th and 19th, respectively. 

Outlook for 2009-'10

Strengths

The Hurricanes' roster finished eighth in the NHL in face-off percentage, winning 51.3 percent.  They were led by Rod Brind'Amour, who won over 61 percent of his face-offs, leading the NHL.   

The defense for the Hurricanes finished eighth in the NHL without a big-time minute-eater. The top four defensemen, Pitkanen, Corvo, Seidenberg, and Gleason, all averaged more than 20 minutes a game.

The NHL also found out, once again, about 'Canes goaltender Cam Ward. Ward again proved that he is a big time performer, winning his sixth playoff series until he ran into the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Weaknesses

The offensive is led by Ray Whitney, Eric Staal, and Erik Cole. Cole averaged almost a point a game after he was re-acquired from the Oilers and teamed up with Staal again.

Whitney led the team with 53 assists and 77 points. After the top line, there is a huge drop off in production. The Penguins were able to shut down the top line in the playoffs and that led to the third round sweep.

The special teams are average at best. 

Prediction

The Hurricanes, for the first half of the '08-'09 season, were not a playoff team. They then hired a new old coach (Maurice) and went on an amazing run. The 'Canes play in the weakest division in the NHL, the Southeast Division. 

Other than competing against the Washington Capitals, winning the division and finishing as one of the top three seeds should not be a problem. I believe none of the other four teams in the Hurricanes' division will make the playoffs. 

The Hurricanes will finish second in the division, but either ninth or 10th in the Eastern Conference.

On Aug. 11, I will be reviewing the Chicago Blackhawks, as I continue to preview each of the 30 NHL clubs.