Carolina Hurricanes: How the team continues to climb

It is mid-January and the NHL season is in full swing. The Carolina Hurricanes are hitting their stride at the right time – playing their best stretch of hockey that Canes fans have seen in some time. We take a look at what direction the Canes should head in as we steer toward the latter half of the season.

It is no secret that the Carolina Hurricanes are among the hottest teams in the NHL now in a stretch where they have won seven of their last eight games. Things really seem to be clicking for the hockey club as they are sitting just four points out of a wildcard spot. What should the Canes do to assure that they continue to climb the ladder and into a playoff spot for the first time in ten years?

Any serious playoff push has to start with keeping the line of Micheal Ferland, Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen in tact. For fans that watch intently, it is very clear that these three players are at their best when they are on the ice together. The line got back together during Friday night’s matchup with the Buffalo Sabres and they didn’t miss a beat. Each player had a multi-point game, led by Ferland who had a goal and two assists. The presence of Ferland playing on Aho’s wing seemingly allows the Canes’ All-Star selection to play his best hockey, and more importantly, be the Carolina Hurricanes’ best player.

The proof is in the pudding on this one, as Aho has six points (5 goals and an assist) in the past two games. The physical, yet skilled, arsenal that Ferland possesses pairs extremely well with the very cerebral and finesse game that the two young Finnish players exhibit. Keeping the trio together and allowing Aho to be the superstar that Caniacs know he is, is vital to the Hurricanes’ continued success and playoff pursuit.

The next key I am going to harp on is taking penalties as the Canes continue down the stretch. I understand that the penalty kill has been up to the task as of late, but the amount of chances could come back to haunt the Canes, as it did in the most recent Tampa Bay game. The past three games have seen the Hurricanes go on the PK 16 times. A lot of these penalties are coming from careless stick infractions that could be prevented with more careful play. Yes, some of the calls in the recent games have been questionable, but do not leave it up to the always fan-questioned discretion of the refs. The penalties have to be reduced as the season continues. Do not give the opposition ample opportunities to convert on the man-advantage, and one would think the Canes’ recent stellar play only gets better.

The last thing is one that, in my opinion, has the best chance to put the Canes back in the playoffs if executed properly. This is my (and my fellow writers here at Cardiac Cane) continued advocation for the Canes to be buyers as we approach the deadline. It is true that this team is meshing well now, and playing their best hockey of the season as a result. This makes it a great time to acquire a top six forward to bolster the top two lines for the Hurricanes, which could make the team a formidable force for the rest of the season.

Who would the Canes give up? Acquiring a true top six forward would likely mean giving up one of our many right-shot defenseman, along with a high-end prospect and maybe even a draft pick depending on the return. My opinion on this is if such a trade is going to happen, the front office needs to ensure that the return that the Canes receive is not just a rental. It would be great to see the team acquire a top talent that will stick around Raleigh and continue to help this promising young team progress for years to come. If all of those pieces come together, I would imagine that GM Don Waddell is ready to pull the trigger. Time will tell if and who the franchise is ready to part ways with. If the Canes make a sensible move that meets those criteria, put the rest of the league on even higher notice because the storm will be surging at an all-time high.

Those are the three things I believe the Hurricanes need to do to break the continuous cycle of failure that has led to the league’s longest playoff drought that fans like myself are tired of hearing about. I think all three things that I have mentioned are do-able and well within the realm of possibility. That being said, Caniacs should be thrilled with the recent success of the Carolina Hurricanes. They have been thrilling to watch while continuing to raise the fragile hopes of their fan base. Strap in everybody, and enjoy this ride that we are currently on.