Founded: 1972 in the World Hockey Association. Joined NHL in 1979
Formerly known as: New England Whalers (1972-1979), Hartford Whalers (1979-1997)
Arena: RBC Center
Stanley Cups: 1
2006
2008-09 Hurricanes Preview:
(See below for the team ranking from last season)
As Stanley Cup hangovers go, this one is a killer. The Hurricanes are the first Stanley Cup champion to miss the playoffs two years running after the championship season. Carolina looked like a good bet to win the weak Southeast Division last year, but the surging Washington Capitals stole the prize on the final day of the regular season. A late-season injury to captain Rod Brind'Amour might have been the difference.
The 'Canes opted for plenty of changes over the summer. But are they any better? Scoring winger Erik Cole was traded, which leaves the forward depth chart full of names like Brind'Amour, Ray Whitney, Tuomo Ruutu, and Sergei Samsonov. There’s a lot of “maybe” and “hopefully” on that list. Eric Staal has a brand new, lucrative, long-term contract, and must respond with another season of 80-plus points. Staal is the only sure thing in this forward group, especially with Justin Williams gone for most of the season with a shredded Achilles tendon. He will be sorely missed.
More questions loom on the back end, where Carolina has looked wobbly for the last two years. The defense isn't especially deep, and with Joni Pitkanen and Joe Corvo playing big minutes, it won't be especially defensive. Veterans Bret Hedican and Glen Wesley are gone. Maybe their time was up (both retired) but the team doesn't look any better without them. Perhaps 25-year-old Tim Gleason is ready to play 30 minutes per game.
The Hurricanes’ season will likely depend on goaltender Cam Ward. He's no dud, but he hasn't delivered on the world-beating promise he showed in the 2006 Stanley Cup run. Is Ward a true elite goaltender or not? He'll turn 25 this season, so maybe we're about to find out.
What the Carolina Hurricanes did in 2007-08
9th in Eastern Conference
16th in NHL
