Carolina Hurricanes: This Time One Year Ago

…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.

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…

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?