Carolina Hurricanes: This Time One Year Ago
The season has ended for the Hurricanes, and although many have now accepted its abrupt conclusion, it should not be lost that this organization has undergone an astronomical renaissance; in just one season.
Justin Williams said it best, “Reflection is for the end of the year; and I guess it’s the end of the year.” The Caniac faithful, the ones who pack those seats of PNC, win or lose, have felt the sudden heart break of ending the 2019 season in a hard fought, albeit one-sided, series sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins.
But the end of the year is here all the same. Work is still being done by the front office, and the organization is beginning to formulate its plan for the impending, and crucial offseason. What has developed over these 90-plus games is something that should welcome such reflection, or better yet, perspective.
Longtime fans of this franchise are familiar with the feeling which haunted past seasons. Not living up to potential, underachieving, lacking any real experience; we have heard all of the excuses, and we have all made them ourselves, yet, none applicable to this group.
Changed the culture. Changed the game.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 17, 2019
Just getting started. pic.twitter.com/xBaVja8021
The resurgent four levels of this organization- ownership, management, the coaching staff, and the players themselves- have stepped into their self-assigned challenge and have reached far above and beyond it.
But what puts all of this excitement into perspective is considering where we were just this time last year…
Lacked a True No. 1 Center
The criticism of the Hurricanes seemed to revolve, foremost, around the lack of elite talent in the middle of the ice. NHL pundits would speak to the lower end talent being asked to perform at a level they couldn’t attain; often citing this as the greatest hinderance to any path of success that the Hurricanes may travel.
This point of criticism is valid, how many teams left standing in June had elite talent at that position? Fans echoed these sentiments, often calling for management to mortgage the future to ensure that this position was set in stone. The Hurricanes did no such thing; they only had faith in their most skilled player to adapt and thrive, which he did.
Sebastian Aho had a season for the ages. Many where weary when Rod Brind’Amour made a commitment to Aho’s transition to the center of the ice. The previous head coach had tried, and been less than successful, but the guidance of this staff helped Aho deliver an 80 point campaign in just his third NHL season.
Re-signing RFA Sebastian Aho is a priority for GM Don Waddell.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 24, 2019
More » https://t.co/EWFuiUVRc3 pic.twitter.com/OGFIalLBOm
There are still questions, Aho has not fully entrenched himself as the team’s No. 1 center of the future, and his contract status is still an uncertainty, but it will be difficult to find anyone better. Could the team still grab a top-tier NHL center and move Aho to his more natural wing? It is possible, and would, perhaps, make the team even more dangerous in open ice.
The case still remains. What was a major question that plagued this team last year, has been developed into something that the Carolina Front Office has a plethora of options when attempting to solve. Aho has earned the right to challenge for that spot and has been the best Centerman in Carolina since the days of number 12.
One of the Worst Goalie Situations in the League
When NHL analysts weren’t commentating on the lack of elite talent at the center position, they were insisting that goaltending would indeed be the downfall of the team. This was most certainly a valid criticism. The net has always seemed to be a sore spot in Carolina, and they have consistently struggled to find any sort of consistency at that dire position.
The old regime had left the new one with the Scott Darling debacle, and an aging Carolina veteran. There where prospects, but none close to being ready to man the NHL crease. This forced the front office to look outside the organization with two primary goals; find someone cheap, and make sure they’re experienced.
That came in the form of Petr Mrazek, and later Curtis McElhinney. What Rod Brind’Amour and Don Waddell did with the goaltending situation for the 2019 Hurricanes was nothing short of a miracle. They couldn’t lure away top free agents, nor should they have been willing to write the check they would have required; all while the previous tandem had seen their days numbered.
Hurricanes hope to re-sign both Petr Mrazek, Curtis McElhinney. https://t.co/FXi6FFvYcO pic.twitter.com/D5GU2rKjQE
— theScore (@theScore) May 21, 2019
These two players, with the help of a truly incredible defensive corps., carried the Hurricanes from the new year to the playoffs. There is no certainty that these two men are the long-term answers however; again, McElhinney is 35, and Mrazek’s late playoff meltdown displayed his ability to let the goals pile on.
Don Waddell and that management group have a decision to make. These players have earned a second opportunity, but one that may not come in Raleigh. Yet, if we know anything from this time last year, it’s that this organization should be trusted to make the right call.
Captaincy in Flux
Many Fans will remember the disaster of last seasons Captaincy. The old coach awarded co-captains for the season in veteran talents Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk. This decision was one that no one saw coming, and few understood. Worst then being ignorant, it threatened what Rod was trying to build in his first season as coach.
When Justin Williams returned, many fans and analysts alike had assumed who would receive that vaunted ‘C’ on their sweater. Williams was a three-time Stanley Cup Champion; he had been a part of a legendary 3-0 comeback in Los Angeles and had been a contributing factor to Carolina’s only Stanley Cup Championship.
Rod knew this. The difficult decision he faced was how to handle rescinding the captaincy from two of the team’s most necessary pieces. What Rod did, successfully giving Williams the leadership position he needed for this team to be successful, while also returning Staal and Faulk to their role as Alternates for which they seem better suited for, set the tone for the year.
"I feel like this is more of a family atmosphere than a hockey team and its fans."
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 17, 2019
- @JustinWilliams pic.twitter.com/zqMaxv7BR0
Williams was not simply a success as Carolina Captain, he is on a very short list of some of the very best. This season cemented his place in that role, there isn’t even an argument, or a close second as to who would take that role. Learning from the greatest captain in Franchise history aided in establishing Williams as the face of this locker room.
If Don Waddell can convince Williams to take one more go at his fourth Stanley Cup, then this team would have addressed what was a glaring flaw from the previous regime. Even if Williams doesn’t return to Carolina, the change in culture is a sustainable one. Whoever takes over that position has learned from one of the better that this franchise has seen.
…Organization Without a Direction
There was very little optimism concerning last year’s Carolina Hurricanes. The team could not seem to figure it out, to take the next step and form a core capable of battling for a playoff spot in a rather tough division. There where young players with talent, but many of which could not live up to their expectations, and the prospect pool was filled with players still years away.
This year was different. Many of those same young players produced, Rookies made their debuts with a sense of belief in themselves and in their team that was lost under the previous staff, and veterans accepted their responsibilities as men with the means to accomplish a dream. There is a long way to go for this roster, but the infrastructure is strong for Waddell to build off of this year.
The organization was perceived as a talented and inexperienced group, as a group defined by their undeveloped, yet gifted, blue line and a lack of any premiere scoring and goaltending; that changed with a dominant postseason, and the concession that this team is incredibly close to contention.
What a year. What a season.
— NHL (@NHL) May 17, 2019
Hold your heads high, @NHLCanes. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/tHteJpTgfC
Both Rod Bring’Amour and Don Waddell have set a direction. Under the influence of a competitive owner who will do what it takes to win, the general manager and head coach have set a course for immortality. All they have to do is continue on towards it. If this development and growth can continue, then destiny shall arrive sooner than later.
Get ready Caniacs; one can only imagine what we’ll have witnessed this time next year…
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Question for CC readers: Can both Waddell and Brind’Amour build off a successful 2019 season? Or is a step back in the works for this franchise?