Carolina Hurricanes: How to fix the roster and return to the playoffs

Chemistry is really what makes this team a winner

This is the one thing on this list that really isn’t much in need of a true fix. This team has chemistry. It’s been building the chemistry from the very beginning starting with Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour, a coach that players would run through a wall for. It continues with the post-game celebrations which apparently involves late night slumber parties at the Slavin household.

Doesn’t matter if this is true or not. It matters that we can imagine it in our heads easily. And you know Andrei Svechnikov is the one giggling the loudest. The chemistry in this team is there. The real fix is taking advantage of it to build a roster that can win games.

Guys like Brock McGinn and Justin Williams seem to always click when on the same line, so let’s get them together. The emergence of Lucas Wallmark managing to feed the puck consistently to Jordan Martinook has already led to a hat trick for the latter. It is also important not to forget the friendship and chemistry built down in Charlotte when players are called up.

When players are that in tune with each other everything else begins to click. Passes made through traffic find their mark. Players know how to lean into each other’s strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses. Opponents know that if they got too friendly with one know they might draw the wrath of others such as Micheal Ferland which might not end well for them.

So if all these adjustments and a few long shots happen, what does the Carolina Hurricanes lineup look like? After all, we discussed a lot of moves and trades. So how does it all shape up, you ask? Feast your eyes on a lineup built to win a Stanley Cup:

Teravainen-Aho-Nylander

Ferland-Staal-Svechnikov

McGinn-Rask-Williams

Foegele/Martinook-Wallmark-Necas/Zykov

Slavin-Pesce/Hamilton (if Pesce is the one traded)

deHaan-Faulk/TVR (if Faulk is the one traded)

Bean/Fleury-Hamilton/TVR (depending on who gets traded for Nylander, Faulk or Pesce)

McElhinney – Mrazek

There are a lot of variables and ‘what ifs’ in this lineup. But it is one that is built upon the team’s chemistry, proper progression of younger players to bring them to championship potential, and balance of right and left handers. It’s also built to withstand injuries at any position.

Goaltending is the most interesting part of the fix. I know many will be clamoring to say that McElhinney should be the starter – after all, he has some of the best stats in the league. Truth is, he is still a 35 year old journeyman in the midst of a purple patch of form. While Mrazek should see more starts than him, we should entrust our most important games to McElhinney.

If the Carolina Hurricanes can accomplish this, not only can they end a decade long playoff drought, they can win the Metropolitan division, and become a true contender for the Stanley Cup come summertime.

Question For CC readers: 

What changes to the roster would you like to see to help create a team good enough to get into the playoffs at long last? Comment below and let us know!