As the NHL season approaches, it is impossible not to speculate about how each NHL team could shape up and where they may place at the end of the season. While last season, the Carolina Hurricanes were one of the top teams in the league, they have lost a fair few players in key positions, including the departure of key center Vincent Trochek. Because of this, the Carolina Hurricanes prospects could be relied on to fill the now vacant roster positions. Just what can be expected of the Hurricanes this season though? Could the Hurricanes Stanley Cup run be a reality?
Carolina Hurricanes Strong Forward Core
The Carolina Hurricanes have one of the strongest pools of forwards in the NHL, with Sebastian Aho, leading the way from the first line, and the possibility of Paul Stastny slotting into the top three lines in either center or on the wing to bolster the team’s strength. The Hurricanes can rely on a combination of veteran skills and one of the highest placements in the 2022 NHL Prospect rankings to make their forward core shine in a new light despite the departure of second-line center Trochek. This could potentially serve as a good thing as it gives young-gun Martin Necas a chance to slide into center on the second line rather than playing on the wing to really show off what he can do and grow into his potential.
As well, the possibility of superstar Max Pacioretty returning from injury part way through the season could see the Hurricanes get a second wind of strength during the mid to late stages of the season, possibly leading to a better Stanley Cup playoff seeding position. In the meantime, it is likely that Ondrej Kase will take a roster spot that could be made available to Pacioretty upon his return from injury.
Carolina Hurricanes Roster: Possible Impact of Brent Burns
Any NHL Season Preview on the Hurricanes would be incomplete without mentioning the possible impacts of former San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns on the Carolina Hurricanes roster. This would see the Hurricanes’ top defensive line being one of the strongest in the league, as Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns take the ice in a defensive pairing that is unlikely to give up many opportunities while also being able to contribute to offensive situations. This is largely similar to the former top line of Slavin and Dougie Hamilton which was an intimidating pairing to go up against for any team in the league.
NHL Season Preview: William M. Jennings Trophy Winning Goalie Tandem
The Carolina Hurricanes were able to hold onto both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, the goalie tandem who managed to win the William M. Jennings trophy last season as they were able to hold the lowest number of goals scored against among the two of them. The veteran goalie tandem looks strong enough to take on the league as long as they can stay in good health, however, they can also call on rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov to attempt to make an impact in the NHL should one of the two be facing injuries.
So how could the Carolina Hurricanes shake out this season? Based on their performances last season, and the acquisitions they made in the offseason, it looks likely that the Hurricanes’ organization could remain a top team in their division, and make a deep Stanley Cup Playoff run. While there is a chance the team could face some injuries, they do still have a few players on professional tryouts that could change the Hurricanes roster up should they be signed to a contract.
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