2017-18 record: 36-35-11 (83 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain(s): Jordan Staal, Justin Faulk
Last year was supposed to be different for the Carolina Hurricanes. They were supposed to be competing for a playoff spot with a new goaltender in Scott Darling, an improved core, and youth that was improving. Instead, Darling was terrible, most of the star players didn't perform to expectations, and their attendance was still dead last. What is a team to do other than blow it all up. Gone are Jeff Skinner, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Cam Ward, head coach Bill Peters, and General Manager Ron Francis. Incoming are coach Rod Brind'Amour, Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Petr Mrazek. It figures to be another long season in the Tar Heel State.
Under Bill Peters' watch, the Carolina Hurricanes went from trainwreck to just plain unwatchable, as only Sebastian Aho did anything noteworthy. Now, he is the centerpiece of a revamped squad that is unlikely to go anywhere this season. There aren't any signs that the team will improve upon their 23rd ranked offense or 22nd ranked defense, as they gave up on the youth of both an underachieving Lindholm and Hanifin to get 17 goals of Hamilton and some sorely needed toughness of Ferland. Darling will need to rebound in a big way because Mrazek also has something to prove after his disastrous runs in Detroit and Philadelphia last year. The big question mark is Brind'Amour, as he is a first time head coach and former team captain who also has legendary status with the team because that worked out for Francis.
Prediction: 8th in the Metropolitan Divsion
Other than the New York Rangers, the Hurricanes are one of the sure bets to not make the playoffs from the Metropolitan Division. There just isn't anything to inspire confidence that the team will do something. Aho may be worth a look, but until the defense does things and goaltending is finally solved, expect another half empty PNC Arena throughout the season.
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