A LOOK AT LAST SEASON
The Canes finished seventh in their conference, giving them a date with the defending champions, the New York Islanders, who defeated them in 6 games. While the early exit was a disappointment, the Canes organization was quite happy with the second half turnaround.
Early on, the Canes lack of offense had lost them several winnable games and the Canes management made a flurry of deals. Notably added were Alexei Kovalev, Cory Stillman, Jeff Friesen and Brendan Morrison, all of which had strong offensive impacts.
With new found offense and confidence, the Canes rolled through and forced their way back into a playoff spot, something most people close to the organization believed to be lost.
Jose Theodore stood strong second half and with a 4 team battle for the last two spots, the Canes were able to maximize their chances and took the playoff spot.
BETWEEN THE PIPE DREAMS
Young goaltender Jose Theodore came as advertised from Nashville and the netminder did not let the team down.
On many nights, after being thrown to the wolves, the Canes goalie took responsibility for the losses yet losses could not be blamed on him. With the Canes sickening lack of offense early on, Theodore was left to win or lose games by himself. As the season grew older, Theodore proved his worth and helped catapult the Canes to the playoffs and force a strong effort against the defending cup champs.
TURNING THE CORNER
The Carolina Hurricanes made two deals that can be looked back on as keys to the team’s mild success. Mid season, the Canes dealt disgruntled winger Jeff O’Neill and star blueliner Chris Pronger to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Alexei Kovalev, Oleg Tverdovsky, Marek Zidlicky and a first round draft choice. The second deal was Craig Conroy and a second round draft selection going to Vancouver for Brendan Morrison, Ryan Getzlaf and a late round pick. With these acquisitions, the Canes showed they were more than ready to compete with some of the better teams in the league.
TEAM MVP
The Carolina Hurricanes made huge strides offensively as the season went along and much of that improvement can be placed on the shoulders of Alexei Kovalev. The big right winger was a leader for the team the moment he was picked up from Nashville in the trade previously mentioned. With Kovalev leading the way throughout most of the season, the Canes began to believe.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Several young Canes are in the running to have career years and the Canes are looking forward to their rite of passage.
Shifty blueliner Carlo Colaiacovo struggled throughout much of the season but the acquisition of veteran Scott Niedermayer should ease the pressures on the young blueliner and allow him the creativity he needs to develop in this league.
Defensive minded rearguard Steve Eminger returns for his second year and looks to improve on his positional play. The defenseman was outstanding for the Canes throughout much of the season and his steady play helped the Canes throughout the stretch when goals weren’t being scored and a tighter defense was needed to win games. Under the watchful eye of assistant captain Jay McKee, Eminger is turning into a carbon copy of his on-ice mentor.
Skilled and savvy, Kyle Wellwood enters his second year with the Canes and will likely be counted on more frequently to show off his moves. Wellwood, former OHL scoring ace, has given the impression he can score at this level but with limited ice time last season, the smallish center was unable to put his stats where his mouth is. Given time, Wellwood will likely be the Canes top center and expectations for him are ever increasing.
WHO'S NEW IN TOWN
Michael Woodford was picked up in a late season trade with Florida, along with Mattias Karlsson and Patrick Sharp for Adam Deadmarsh and looks to be the real deal. The offensive winger was one of the top rated goal scorers in junior last season and his knack around the net will be welcomed in Carolina.
Robert Gherson, another late season acquisition, is a strong netminder with a solid future ahead of him. Gherson exploded on the scene in junior Cane-Land last season and helped the Canes successful run to the playoffs. Look for Gherson to take the backup spot and support Jose Theodore next year.
ON THE HORIZON
The Canes have stockpiled a number of top prospects in their organization.
Jeff Carter, the skilled center, who will likely spend another year of junior, will soon find himself as the center of attention in Carolina. The tall forward is tied for career lead in goals for Team Canada’s junior program, matching that of Eric Lindros. Carter will likely lead the junior Canes to another successful season.
Dion Phaneuf, the intense battler of the Canes blue line, has showcased himself as one of the league’s premier open ice hitters and has solidified himself as a strong candidate to make the Canes blue line the following year.
Phaneuf was a stand out for Team Canada playing the role of the shutdown defender on different teams and will likely be a key member of the Canes for several seasons come.
Ryan Getzlaf, the strong power forward, who immediately connected with Jeff Carter as the junior Canes top tandem. Getzlaf, primarily a goal scorer, has shown flashes of offensive brilliance over the past season and will likely remain in junior one more season to try and bring the Canes home a junior title.
Mike Richards will bring the Canes some fire, leadership and offensive wizardry in the future. Richards has become the junior Canes leader in the room and takes his role as the team’s shut down man seriously. The Canes look forward to having the young pivot in the lineup in the future, but like most prospects in the organization, he will remain in junior one more season.
THE OUTLOOK
The Canes fought hard at the end of the season in order to make the playoffs. With newcomers Scott Niedermayer and Kris Draper being added, the Canes have more leadership and talent than ever before. With Theodore in nets, a strong blueline core including Tverdovsky, Niedermayer, McKee and Eminger, the defense should be stingy throughout most of the season. Up front, returnees Cory Stillman, Alex Kovalev, Jeff Friesen, Brendan Morrison, Mike Fisher and captain Shane Doan should provide far more bang for the Canes buck than the team’s forwards of last year.
The Canes feel they have a solid team to contend with some of the bigger boys next season and the boys are ready to prove it on the ice.
The Canes finished seventh in their conference, giving them a date with the defending champions, the New York Islanders, who defeated them in 6 games. While the early exit was a disappointment, the Canes organization was quite happy with the second half turnaround.
Early on, the Canes lack of offense had lost them several winnable games and the Canes management made a flurry of deals. Notably added were Alexei Kovalev, Cory Stillman, Jeff Friesen and Brendan Morrison, all of which had strong offensive impacts.
With new found offense and confidence, the Canes rolled through and forced their way back into a playoff spot, something most people close to the organization believed to be lost.
Jose Theodore stood strong second half and with a 4 team battle for the last two spots, the Canes were able to maximize their chances and took the playoff spot.
BETWEEN THE PIPE DREAMS
Young goaltender Jose Theodore came as advertised from Nashville and the netminder did not let the team down.
On many nights, after being thrown to the wolves, the Canes goalie took responsibility for the losses yet losses could not be blamed on him. With the Canes sickening lack of offense early on, Theodore was left to win or lose games by himself. As the season grew older, Theodore proved his worth and helped catapult the Canes to the playoffs and force a strong effort against the defending cup champs.
TURNING THE CORNER
The Carolina Hurricanes made two deals that can be looked back on as keys to the team’s mild success. Mid season, the Canes dealt disgruntled winger Jeff O’Neill and star blueliner Chris Pronger to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Alexei Kovalev, Oleg Tverdovsky, Marek Zidlicky and a first round draft choice. The second deal was Craig Conroy and a second round draft selection going to Vancouver for Brendan Morrison, Ryan Getzlaf and a late round pick. With these acquisitions, the Canes showed they were more than ready to compete with some of the better teams in the league.
TEAM MVP
The Carolina Hurricanes made huge strides offensively as the season went along and much of that improvement can be placed on the shoulders of Alexei Kovalev. The big right winger was a leader for the team the moment he was picked up from Nashville in the trade previously mentioned. With Kovalev leading the way throughout most of the season, the Canes began to believe.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Several young Canes are in the running to have career years and the Canes are looking forward to their rite of passage.
Shifty blueliner Carlo Colaiacovo struggled throughout much of the season but the acquisition of veteran Scott Niedermayer should ease the pressures on the young blueliner and allow him the creativity he needs to develop in this league.
Defensive minded rearguard Steve Eminger returns for his second year and looks to improve on his positional play. The defenseman was outstanding for the Canes throughout much of the season and his steady play helped the Canes throughout the stretch when goals weren’t being scored and a tighter defense was needed to win games. Under the watchful eye of assistant captain Jay McKee, Eminger is turning into a carbon copy of his on-ice mentor.
Skilled and savvy, Kyle Wellwood enters his second year with the Canes and will likely be counted on more frequently to show off his moves. Wellwood, former OHL scoring ace, has given the impression he can score at this level but with limited ice time last season, the smallish center was unable to put his stats where his mouth is. Given time, Wellwood will likely be the Canes top center and expectations for him are ever increasing.
WHO'S NEW IN TOWN
Michael Woodford was picked up in a late season trade with Florida, along with Mattias Karlsson and Patrick Sharp for Adam Deadmarsh and looks to be the real deal. The offensive winger was one of the top rated goal scorers in junior last season and his knack around the net will be welcomed in Carolina.
Robert Gherson, another late season acquisition, is a strong netminder with a solid future ahead of him. Gherson exploded on the scene in junior Cane-Land last season and helped the Canes successful run to the playoffs. Look for Gherson to take the backup spot and support Jose Theodore next year.
ON THE HORIZON
The Canes have stockpiled a number of top prospects in their organization.
Jeff Carter, the skilled center, who will likely spend another year of junior, will soon find himself as the center of attention in Carolina. The tall forward is tied for career lead in goals for Team Canada’s junior program, matching that of Eric Lindros. Carter will likely lead the junior Canes to another successful season.
Dion Phaneuf, the intense battler of the Canes blue line, has showcased himself as one of the league’s premier open ice hitters and has solidified himself as a strong candidate to make the Canes blue line the following year.
Phaneuf was a stand out for Team Canada playing the role of the shutdown defender on different teams and will likely be a key member of the Canes for several seasons come.
Ryan Getzlaf, the strong power forward, who immediately connected with Jeff Carter as the junior Canes top tandem. Getzlaf, primarily a goal scorer, has shown flashes of offensive brilliance over the past season and will likely remain in junior one more season to try and bring the Canes home a junior title.
Mike Richards will bring the Canes some fire, leadership and offensive wizardry in the future. Richards has become the junior Canes leader in the room and takes his role as the team’s shut down man seriously. The Canes look forward to having the young pivot in the lineup in the future, but like most prospects in the organization, he will remain in junior one more season.
THE OUTLOOK
The Canes fought hard at the end of the season in order to make the playoffs. With newcomers Scott Niedermayer and Kris Draper being added, the Canes have more leadership and talent than ever before. With Theodore in nets, a strong blueline core including Tverdovsky, Niedermayer, McKee and Eminger, the defense should be stingy throughout most of the season. Up front, returnees Cory Stillman, Alex Kovalev, Jeff Friesen, Brendan Morrison, Mike Fisher and captain Shane Doan should provide far more bang for the Canes buck than the team’s forwards of last year.
The Canes feel they have a solid team to contend with some of the bigger boys next season and the boys are ready to prove it on the ice.
posted by Lohaus at 11:49 AM
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1 million clutch cash for season preview
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