Jared Staal: The youngest Staal brother got into his first NHL action this season, dressing in the final two games for the Hurricanes this season. Staal had a good couple of games, but it will be difficult for him to make the roster out of training camp this season. However, he is only 22-years-old and could make the team in a year or two. Verdict: Re-Sign.

Zac Dalpe: The former second round pick has played 41 games with the Canes over three seasons, but has not been able to stick with the team. He has been a scoring threat for the Charlotte Checkers and next season will be make-or-break for him to land a spot in the NHL. Even if he cannot make it on the Hurricanes’ roster, Dalpe will still help the Checkers score. Verdict: Re-Sign.

Andreas Nodl played in 48 games for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012, but only one this season. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Andreas Nodl: Nodl played all of the 2011-12 season in the NHL (with the Philadelphia Flyers and Hurricanes), but was sent through waivers and assigned to the Checkers after playing in eight games this season. The Austria native only played six games with the Checkers, but scored five points. If Nodl does not have a chance with the Hurricanes, the team should let him enter free agency. Verdict: Do Not Re-Sign.

Riley Nash: Nash played in 32 games for the Hurricanes recording four goals and five assists. But he also provided some grit for the bottom six and performed his job well. Nash is not guaranteed a spot on the Canes next season, but would be a valuable call-up. Verdict: Re-Sign.

Zach Boychuk: Last season, Boychuk could not stay with three different NHL teams, with the Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators all waiving him. It does not seem that Boychuk will be able to carve out an NHL career and has had his chance with the Hurricanes numerous times. Verdict: Do Not Re-Sign.

Marc-Andre Gragnani: The former Buffalo Sabre only played one game with the Hurricanes this season, but has played in the NHL before. If the Canes decide to trade Jaime McBain this off-season, Gragnani could be a possible replacement. The Canadian defenseman also helped out the Checkers with puck-moving on the back end. Verdict: Re-Sign.

Brett Bellemore: Bellemore played in three games for the Hurricanes this season and looked strong against NHL forwards and recorded two assists. But scoring is not the 6-4 defenseman’s game. He is more relied on for his defensive play, which is an area the Hurricanes need to improve on.

Bellemore will compete with Ryan Murphy  and any other offseason acquisitions for a spot on the roster next season. Depending on who GM Jim Rutherford brings in, Bellemore could have a good chance of making the team or an outside chance.

Ryan Murphy got his first taste of NHL action this season. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Nicolas Blanchard: Blanchard played in the last nine games of the season for the Hurricanes providing grit and toughness in the Canes bottom six. The 25-year-old did not score at all, but he did play with Jordan Staal from time-to-time and looked like he belonged in the NHL.

But a spot on the Hurricanes roster will not be easily achieved for Blanchard. He will need to compete with Kevin Westgarth for the enforcer role on the team, which Westgarth has been doing for a longer period of time. It’s possible that Blanchard could earn a spot on the fourth line with Westgarth still on the roster, but it will not be easily done.

Zac Dalpe: With 41 NHL games under his belt, it is time for Dalpe to take the next step in his career. The 23-year-old played in 10 games this season for the Hurricanes scoring one goal and adding two assists, but could not stick with the big club. However, Dalpe had a good season for the Checkers scoring 21 goals and 42 points.

With Tim Brent a UFA, Dalpe will have a shot at the center position on the third or fourth line. The Canes could also try Dalpe as a winger, possibly with Jordan Staal or again on the third line. Dalpe is the most likely of the Checkers to earn a spot on the Hurricanes next season.

Ryan Murphy: The Hurricanes first pick in the 2012 draft played in four games for the Canes this season, but was sent back to juniors to prevent a year of his entry-level contract being burnt off with a fifth game played. The Canadian did not record a point with the Hurricanes, but proved he could be a valuable offensive defenseman with seven shots. Murphy joined the Checkers for their playoff run recording two assists in three regular season games, but none in the post-season.

Murphy is primarily an offensive defenseman, something the Canes do not lack at all. Murphy will have to compete with Bellemore and any other defenseman that is brought in over the offseason. It’s also possible that Rutherford could trade Jaime McBain. There were rumors at the trade deadline that Rutherford was attempting to, which would open a spot for Murphy.

April 7, 2012: Sunrise, FL, USA; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller looks on during the second period against he Florida Panthers at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

We all have sports “truths” or “philosophies” we live by. The older I get, the more my sports truths are tested. Growing up watching Michigan football under Bo Schembechler, I believed that you had to run the ball and be able to stop the run to win. Now I see college and NFL teams throw the ball 35 plus times a week and win.  In basketball, even if you didn’t have a seven footer, a team had to get the ball inside to win consistently. Now I watch this years version of the “dream team” toy with the worlds best without any semblance of an interior offense. Baseball used to be a marathon race of 162 games. Now you can fail to win anything over the entire summer, and still win the World Series by being a wild card entry. My last defense against this brave new world of sports in the NHL. Even though the game and league has changed greatly since the lockout,  there is one truth that still applies. A team can win during the regular season with top line talent, but to win in the playoffs, you have to have depth.  It’s nearly impossible to go from April until June, winning 16 playoff games, without help from 3rd/4th line players and 5th/6th d-line pairings. This brings us to our Carolina Hurricanes.

Dec 26, 2011; Buffalo, NY, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin (28) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Sabres beat the Capitals 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE

About $11 million was added to the payroll for the 2012/13 season. While it’s nice that the Canes have stepped up and actually added big name players, we shouldn’t get the idea that they are all of a sudden a “cap” team. Looking beyond this season, will the Canes have to sacrifice depth in order to pay for the top end talent the team has? What if Alex Semin turns back the clock to 2010 (40G-84pts.)? Jim Rutherford has already said that if things work out the Canes hope to have a long term relationship with Semin. That would mean multiple years instead of 1 year/$7 million. Jordan Staal’s contract goes up $2 million next year to $6 million. Jeff Skinner finishes his entry level contract, and if he bounces back like most fans think, the Hurricanes will want to sign him to a hefty raise, in case  the Flyers/Wings/Penguins try to snap him up. The following year Justin Faulk will have his salary raised from the $900,000 he makes on his entry level contract. If all this money is due to core players (excluding Semin),  do the Canes have to sacrifice in other areas? 

Mar 7, 2012; Buffalo, NY, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Chad LaRose (59) against the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-US PRESSWIRE

The player I wonder the most about is Chad LaRose. Rosey turns 31 before the end of this up coming season. He will be a UFA  who carries a $1.7 million cap hit.  Chad has turned into a productive player since breaking in with the Canes in 05/06. Twice in the last 4 years, he has scored 19 goals. LaRose led the Canes last year with 5 game winners. Ten of his 19 goals came with the Canes tied or trailing by 1 goal. He was second on the team with 131 hits despite playing in only 67 games. Chad has his negatives. He is a combined - 38 for the past three seasons.  In the games the Hurricanes lost in11/12, Chad was a -27. Regardless of how you feel about the +/- stat, that is a big number. Of his 23 minor penalties last year , 13 were for hooking or tripping. Beyond the stats, LaRose is a heart and soul type player for the Canes. He is a talker, an agitator. He gets under guys skin. He tries to check Zedano Chara every time the Bruins are in town. That is worth the price of a ticket. He is a guy that every winning team has, faults and all. But is he a guy that the Canes would pay close to $2 million a year for? Does Rutherford let LaRose walk if Zac Dalpe, Drayson Bowman or ever Zach Boychuk take that next step forward? It’s hard to imagine Chad leaving the Canes or Rutherford allowing him to leave. But then again, Eric Cole was traded and then left as a FA.  The same goes for Matt Cullen.  We know where Brandon Sutter plays now.  Heck, even Ron Frances was traded. If it happened to them, it could happen to LaRose. After all, business is business.

Thanks for reading. You may follow CardiacCane on Facebook and Twitter: @CardiacCane, @Caniac176, @Caniac_John, and @PJT_Caniac