Carolina Hurricanes - Line Up

The Carolina Hurricanes have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs six times in the seven seasons since winning their first championship. Twice they've been eliminated on the final day of the regular season, but it remains a remarkable lack of success for a team that won the Cup in 2006 and reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2009. General manager Jim Rutherford is one of the deans of the NHL, and he made two big moves before last season, adding Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin. A leaky defense and injuries to Cam Ward and Joni Pitkanen capsized the Hurricanes in 2012-13, and Rutherford made moves to try to correct those potential problems. The Hurricanes added defenseman Andrej Sekera from Buffalo for Jamie McBain and a second-round pick. The trade didn't receive a lot of fanfare, but Sekera could be a significant upgrade. Rutherford also added defenseman Mike Komisarek after the Toronto Maple Leafs bought him out, and Komisarek represents a low-risk move as a potential third-pairing guy, not unlike Wade Redden turned out to be for the St. Louis Blues last season. Another addition is goaltender Anton Khudobin, who played well in limited duty for the Boston Bruins and could allow coach Kirk Muller to rest Ward a little more than in recent years. Khudobin also could prove he's a legitimate No. 1 if Ward can't stay healthy. The Hurricanes are moving into the Metropolitan Division, and it could be a wild scramble for the last couple playoff berths. Missing the postseason for a seventh time in eight years is an ignominious fate Carolina would like to avoid. The top line was quite productive last season, but that trio could use some help. Rutherford has said he expects Lindholm, the team's first-round pick (No. 5) in the 2013 NHL Draft to make the team, and he could fit next to Skinner and Jordan Staal. Scoring from the bottom two lines was a problem at times in 2012-13, though a healthy season from Ruutu and the late July addition of Gerbe might help. Someone from that young-ish group of Dalpe, Nash and Bowman stepping forward and becoming a consistent depth scorer also would make a difference. If the top four on defense can stay healthy, they likely will be pretty solid. Ryan Murphy, a first-round pick in 2011 (No. 12) could play his way onto the team. In the four most recent seasons Ward has stayed healthy (scratch 2012-13 and 2009-10), he's played at least 68 games in each. Khudobin could allow him more rest and the chance to play about 60 games instead.

In: D Mike Komisarek, D Andrej Sekera, C Nathan Gerbe, RW Aaron Palushaj, D Matthew Corrente, G Anton Khudobin.
Out: D Jamie McBain, D Joe Corvo, D Marc-Andre Gragnani, D Bobby Sanguinetti, RW Jerome Samson, G Dan Ellis, RW Tim Wallace.
UFAs: D Marc-Andre Bergeron, RW Chad LaRose.
Prospects: D Ryan Murphy, C Victor Rask, LW Brock McGinn.

 

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Hurricanes:

 

Forwards

Jiri Tlusty- Eric Staal - Alexander Semin

Jeff Skinner - Jordan Staal - Elias Lindholm

Tuomo Ruutu - Riley Nash - Patrick Dwyer

Drayson Bowman - Jeremy Welsh - Zac Dalpe

Nathan Gerbe - Kevin Westgarth

Defensemen

Tim Gleason - Justin Faulk

Andrej Sekera - Joni Pitkanen

Jay Harrison - Mike Komisarek

Brett Bellemore

Goalies

Cam Ward Anton Khudobin