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10 reasons Carolina Hurricanes can win Stanley Cup in 2017-18

By Andrew Miller

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: A general view of the Stanley Cup trophy is seen being displayed at the Park Theater Retail Store at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: A general view of the Stanley Cup trophy is seen being displayed at the Park Theater Retail Store at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes passes the puck during a power play during an NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 11, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes passes the puck during a power play during an NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 11, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

10. Potent talent on the blue line

While the top defensive pairing of Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce had their rough instances over the past two weeks, they’ve been the backbone of the Canes defense. The emergence of players like Noah Hanifin and Haydn Fleury are promising.

If the Canes figure out the best way to maximize all this young talent on the blue line, they’ll really start to take command of their own climb in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina really does have one of the best blue lines in the NHL overall.

When the Canes won the Stanley Cup in 2006, they had some veteran voices in the locker room to command the defense. Now, the Canes have a much younger group of defenders that could also use a veteran voice.

The effort has been there most nights for the Canes defense. However, it seems like they are just missing a step once in a while. Get that problem ironed out and the rest of the team will be much better because of it.

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