Canes open season with questions, potential

By Mike Maniscalco
Oct 7, 2011

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If, could, can, maybe, potentially, but. These are the words that dot the preseason predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Canes continued to get younger this summer and are banking on young talent. Carolina owned a roster that was among the NHL’s oldest two seasons ago. It is now one of the youngest. Just four of the twenty-three players in Paul Maurice’s line-up are over the age of 30, but this team is not without experience.

Eric Staal, Cam Ward and Chad LaRose are the only holdovers from the Stanley Cup winning team of 2005-06, and all three of them are under 30, but those players have only been in the postseason once since winning it all.

The Hurricanes front office is hoping that youth will be served. If this team is going to make the playoffs, the youth has to do more than serve, it has to score.

Last season’s rookie of the year, Jeff Skinner, will take a huge step forward just by replicating last year’s 31-goal, 32-assist campaign.

This will be a far different season for the 19-year-old; he will have bullseye on his jersey all season long. Opposing head coaches will remind their defensive pairings and checking lines more often this year about how good Skinner can be. Space will be a commodity that is harder to find, but he will still have to find it.

Skinner has also been skating on the wing of Eric Staal of late, which will ensure more defensive attention. The good news is that Skinner is one of those rare talents who should only get better. Still, on this team, points need to come from somewhere else.

It’s hard to think of Brandon Sutter being anything but a seasoned pro, but it is easy to forget he is only 22. Sutter took a bit of a step back in the goal-scoring department last season netting 14, but made huge strides as an all-around player. Several times this camp, head coach Paul Maurice has praised the alternate captain for his maturity and his reputation as one of the hardest-working defensive forwards in the league.

Sutter scored 21 two seasons ago, and if he can get back to that mark while providing the same defensive effort, that might be the punch needed to put the Canes into the Eastern Conference's top eight.

This year the attention on Zac Dalpe might equal what Skinner saw last season, but there will be eyes on him to see if he can produce. Dalpe, who spent some time with the Canes last season playing in 15 games and scoring 3 goals, will be counted on to deliver some offense. How much the former Ohio State Buckeye contributes depends on who Dalpe is paired with, but look for him to deliver 10-25 goals.

Carolina is also going young on the blue line. Nineteen-year-old Justin Faulk has done more than make the club; he might be a fixture in the lineup. Faulk moves the puck and has a shot that the organization would like to see on the power play unit. It is unclear if Ryan Murphy, this year’s first-round pick, will be with the team for more than nine games.

If the 18-year-old is not returned to Kitchener in the OHL, the slick-skating defenseman will have to get some playing time. The back end is crowded this season, so the Canes do not have to rely on Faulk and Murphy. But if these two can step in and play, it gives the team options to improve as the season moves along.

Back to the forwards and the new guys:

Free agent acquisitions Alexei Ponikoravsky and Anthony Stewart will add size up front, something the Canes have needed for a while, but how many goals they add is more important. Ponikoravsky was a consistent scorer with the Toronto Maple Leafs especially when paired with future hall of famer Mats Sundin. If he regains that touch in Raleigh, the Canes might have more than 82 games this year.

Stewart was on the verge of a breakout last season in Atlanta. With his size and speed, it is easy to imagine him being a 20-goal scorer, The Canes need that potential to become reality. Stewart’s contributions could lead to a team that has three lines that would be tough to match up against.

The “older guys” still have to carry the weight if this team is going to have a successful season. Captain Eric Staal needs to be in the 40-goal range, no player feels the pressure of having to produce more than he does. Also take into consideration: When Staal scores 40 or more, the Canes make the playoffs.

The chance that Jussi Jokinen’s can return to a 30-goal scorer is part of the reason why he was re-signed by the team. The Finn played through injury last year, but his versatility is something the Canes need all year long. Same can be said of his countryman, Tuomo Ruutu. Staying healthy is priority number one, but scoring 20 is a close second.

The Canes will need something consistent from Chad LaRose and Jiri Tlusty. Both players have shown they can provide offense but injuries derailed Tlusty last season. LaRose has shown he can score goals in the NHL. Anything he can provide will be a big boost. Pat Dwyer and Tim Brent have been a nice combination in the preseason, could be a fourth-line scoring threat.

Defensively, Tomas Kaberle and Joni Pitkanen have the pressure of being the point men with the man-advantage. Kaberle has been a consistent point producer even on some weak Toronto teams and Pitkanen shows flashes.

If the "cans" turn into "does" and potential is fulfilled, the Hurricanes might make the playoffs. While it is no guarantee, it isn’t a no.

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RE: Canes open season with questions, potential

^^^^

I remember the Raleigh Ice Caps! I feel very fortunate to have the Canes here in Raleigh, and I'm glad that Miles Wolfe and Pete Bock helped to pave the way for the Canes. Right now, I'm watching them lose to TB, but hopefully the guys will regroup and give the Caps a good fight tomorrow.

RE: Canes open season with questions, potential

Little known fact - Tonight's opening game marks the 20th year that professional ice hockey has been available in the Raleigh area. In 1991 two fine gentlemen, Miles Wolfe and Pete Bock, started the ECHL Raleigh IceCap franchise. And at that time they wanted to have an AHL franchise instead but the seating capacity of Dorton Arena was 300 seats shy of the AHL minimum so they had to settle for an ECHL franchise. I think the whole Caniac community owes these two a real debt of gratitude for what they started - just look what has happened since.

RE: Canes open season with questions, potential

the key to the teams success has always been Ward and Staal. when they are hot we win, when they slump we lose. unfortunately they both slump alot up until the last 6 weeks of the season. Now if Skinner and Jokinen can come thru with 30 plus and Boucher can win 15 games than the team may be ok thru there guranteed slumps. man, i'm excited about tonight!!!!!!!!!

RE: Canes open season with questions, potential

One game at a time - c'mon and win this one, boys! I really do hope the Canes can have a good start to the season, so they're not digging themselves out of a hole again. Hopefully, they all have a bitter taste in their mouths after missing the playoffs by ONE game, and who better to beat tonight than the very team that kept them out of the playoffs last season. GO CANES!!!

RE: Canes open season with questions, potential

Sell Sutter - he gets paid a ton, wears an A, but never produces. Replace him.
- Posted by OleNCNative

I think you are way off base. Like Larose, Sutter brings something to this team that doesn't show up on the score sheet. Obviously, Larose brings ENERGY on every shift and plays with an edge. Sutter brings DEFENSE. He is asked to be large part of the penalty kill and is one of the best 2 way players in the NHL. I agree that his points have slipped and I really think that he will improve in that area this year. He is extremely talented and still very young. Sutter is already a leader on this team and the Canes have rewarded that with an A on the sweater...
- Posted by mike28

Agreed. Sutter's efforts are not always displayed on the score sheet. A forward who leads the team in blocked shots is someone you want to have around. I think the Canes are really going to need some offensive production from the likes of Dalphe, Stewart, Poni and Tlusty this year. Hope to see them put in a great effort tonight...it's been awhile and Hockey season is BACK!! GO CANES!!!!
- Posted by viking416

Not to mention he led the team in plus/minus rating at plus 13, that does show up on the score sheets. GO CANES!

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Mike Maniscalco