After a mediocre season, the Carolina Hurricanes lucked out and won the 2nd overall spot in the NHL draft, and they picked Andrei Svechnikov. But, they traded away Jeff Skinner and Noah Hanifin, adding Dougie Hamilton. They still have work to do. Let\’s look at some fast facts for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Head Coach: Rod Brind\’Amour
General Manager: Don Waddell
Arena: PNC Arena
AHL Affiliate: Charlotte Checkers
2017-18 record: 36-35-11 (83 points)
2017-18 placement: 6th
Division: Metropolitan
2017-18 goals leader: Sebastian Aho (29)
2017-18 assists leader: Teuvo Teravainen (41)
2017-18 points leader: Sebastian Aho (65)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Noah Hanifin (32)
Captain: Jordan Staal, Justin Faulk (team will cut it down to one captain, and the one stripped will probably be an assistant captain)
Assistant Captains: None
2018 first round pick: Andrei Svechnikov
Offseason additions: Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland, Calvin de Haan, Petr Mrazek, Jordan Martinook.
Offseason subtractions: Jeff Skinner, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Cam Ward, Derek Ryan, Lee Stempniak, Marcus Kruger, Joakim Nordstrom, Klas Dahlbeck.
Forwards: The duo of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen can only get better. Valentin Zykov will be a rookie, but their linemate. Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas will probably be linemates at some point, but maybe not the beginning. Necas might push Victor Rask to the 4th line, but he is above average for a 4th line center. Justin Williams is a vet that can put up 50 points again.
Forward lines:
Valentin Zykov – Sebastian Aho – Teuvo Teravainen
Michael Ferland – Jordan Staal – Andrei Svechnikov
Warren Foegele – Martin Necas – Justin Williams
Phillip Di Giuseppe – Victor Rask – Brock McGinn
Other: Jordan Martinook
Defenseman: Hamilton is an upgrade over Hanifin. Justin Faulk is still a top-2 defenseman. Jaccob Slavin is one of the most underrated d-man in the league, and so is the oft-injured Calvin de Haan. Brett Pesce and Trevor van Riemsdyk make up the bottom pair, but Haydn Fleury is coming.
Defensive pairs:
Jaccob Slavin – Justin Faulk
Calvin de Haan – Dougie Hamilton
Trevor van Riemsdyk – Brett Pesce
Other: Haydn Fleury
Goalies: Scott Darling is the worst starting goalie in the league. He will split time with Petr Mrazek, but this is their biggest issue by far.
Goalie alignment:
Scott Darling
Petr Mrazek
Predictions:
Top five scorers:
Teuvo Teravainen
Sebastian Aho
Dougie Hamilton
Valentin Zykov
Justin Williams
Playoffs: No
Division spot: 7th
CarterHud 