Carolina Hurricanes Morning News: Expansion, Daniel Alfredsson, and Edmonton Oilers

Expansion has been the hot topic this offseason, and it appears that both potential new franchises have gotten to stage three in the process of bringing a team to their city.

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Also, potential future NHL Hall of Famer Daniel Alfredsson looks to return to the organization that made his career as special as it was, and the Edmonton Oilers hope Nail Yakupov can continue to mature without the presence of Derek Roy.

Let’s take a look at today’s news.

Hurricanes Links

• Daniel Altshuller will look to reclaim #1 goalie prospect status this season in the Carolina Hurricanes organization. We preview his 2015-2016 season. (Cardiac Cane)
• In part 1 of an A to Z series, Matt Karash looks at all the players on the 2006 Stanley Cup winning Carolina Hurricanes team. (Canes and Coffee)
• Michael Smith answers fan submitted questions surrounding the Carolina Hurricanes, including UFAs, prospects, and more. (CarolinaHurricanes.com)

Quebec and Las Vegas Move Closer to a Franchise – Puck Daddy

The talk of the offseason has been expansion, and the potential of new teams going to Quebec City and Las Vegas. Now it appears that both parties are getting closer and closer to making that a reality.

Quebec City and Las Vegas were the only two cities with groups that submitted an expansion application to the NHL prior to the July 20 deadline, and both locations are still be seriously considered.

Stage three of the expansion process for the groups was described by the Las Vegas group at the beginning of August.

"In this phase, we will be providing the League with additional information, including information about the Las Vegas market and the MGM AEG Arena being developed between Monte Carlo and New York New York. We will also be permitted access to information provided by the League that it deems important to us."

NHL Chief Legal Officer and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly put the process into much simpler terms in an email to Yahoo’s Puck Daddy.

"“Just the next phase of due diligence and document submission,” Daly told Puck Daddy via email."

It appears that this will just be continuation of paper work and trying to convince the league that a franchise would work in each city, but regardless, it appears that both Quebec City and Las Vegas both could be well on their way to getting a team, potentially as soon as the 2017-2018 season.

Daniel Alfredsson Returns to Ottawa – TSN

Daniel Alfredsson formally retired from the NHL back in December of 2014 after playing a season with the Detroit Red Wings, but Alfy appears to be ready to return to his hockey home, Ottawa.

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The Ottawa Senators legend is set to return to the organization in a hockey operations role, though the nature of that role has yet to be released.

Alfredsson played in 1,178 games with the Senators across 17 seasons, tallying 1,108 points. He spent 13 seasons as the captain of the Senators after spending 2 seasons as an alternate. He wore a letter on his chest with the Sens for 15 straight seasons from 1997 through 2013.

Daniel Alfredsson was the heart of the Ottawa Senators throughout his career with the club, and despite ending on bad terms according to reports back in 2014, it is good to see the legend return home in a front office role.

He also played in 5 Olympics with his native country of Sweden prior to retiring.

Loss of Derek Roy Could Hurt Nail Yakupov? – Edmonton Journal

The Edmonton Oilers let UFA Derek Roy walk via free agency this summer, but the loss of the small forward may affect more than just the on-ice production up the middle, but also young winger Nail Yakupov.

Derek Roy and Nail Yakupov had a father son relationship, says Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, so how will Roy’s departure influence the maturation, both on and off the ice, of the young Russian winger.

"“The first five or six games with Derek I was scared of him,” Yakupov said. “He would be yelling or swearing at me, but it was worth it. Sometimes you’re trying to be everywhere on the ice, but you have to be in your spot and listen to the centre.“Especially a guy like Derek, who has played in the league for 10 years. He’s seen everything in the game. He could help a young kid like me. Soon as Derek got the puck, I was trying to get open for a shot.“He gave me so much support and I was happy to be playing hockey again,” said Yakupov, who spent 3-1/2 months as Roy’s linemate."

Yakupov, the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, is entering his 4th year as an Oiler, and he is looking to prove that he is more than a 15-20 goal scorer.

The speedy winger tallied 17 goals in his 48-game rookie campaign in 2013, but he has fallen short of that number in the two seasons since, having a good center could make Yakupov a high-level player offensively, but it is still a mystery who it will be.

Derek Roy was Yakupov’s center last season and that was somewhat prudent for the players and the team, but now with young Connor McDavid making his way in, will he be the new center that Yakupov works with?

The answer won’t be answered until the season starts, but all the young players on the Oilers, Nail Yakupov included, will have big expectations this season.

Next: 5 Most Difficult Road Trips for the Hurricanes This Season