Carolina Hurricanes 2019-2020 Season Primer

After closing out preseason play with a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Carolina Hurricanes have their roster set for opening night.  Here’s a look at who made the cut, who didn’t, and what we can expect from the Hurricanes this season.

Preseason play started off on a positive note for the Carolina Hurricanes.  James Reimer and Anton Forsberg shared a shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first exhibition game.

The following night brought a rematch, a change of venue (shifting arenas from Amalie to PNC), but the same defensive result.  Petr Mrazek and Alex Nedeljkovic combined to post the second Carolina shutout in as many games and things were looking pretty good.

Then came a 3-2 loss to the Capitals.  The biggest swing took place against the Nashville Predators in a 3-0 loss on September 25.  Despite allowing 3 goals, Forsberg looked excellent at times, making 37 saves, several of the spectacular variety.

The bad news came following the second period’s opening faceoff when offseason acquisition Ryan Dzingel left the game with a lower-body injury.

So, with the Hurricanes closing out a 2-3-1 preseason schedule and nursing a few bumps and bruises, what are we looking at with the regular season knocking at the door?  Let’s start with a look at the roster, starting with the forwards.

Forwards

The Hurricanes opened training camp with precious few forward spots up for grabs.  Even with Justin Williams taking time away from hockey, the forward depth was strong enough to push prospects to both elevate and maintain their play.  Martin Necas, Carolina’s 1st round pick in 2017, played to mixed results, though he did offer glimpses of the natural talent that he possesses.

Pushing hard for an NHL job was 21-year-old Julien Gauthier.  Gauthier, a 1st rounder from the 2016 draft, made use of his size (6’4″, 227lbs) and skill to cause trouble for opposition defenders.  Despite making a strong impression, Gauthier was one of the last cuts, being assigned to Charlotte on October 1.

Here’s a look at the Hurricanes’ forward roster:

There is a lot of talent among the forward ranks, that goes without question.  That said, talent alone isn’t going to guarantee wins.  The Hurricanes need the established scorers to at least maintain their level of production while having their up and coming players show consistent progress.

With the uncertainty of Dzingel’s status, Haula coming off a season-ending injury (and being pulled from the second preseason game as a precaution), the Hurricanes cannot afford to have anyone take a night off.  Couple that with the unknown of how Necas will perform in regular NHL duty and it amplifies the urgency for everyone to play up to their ability.

While we’re on the topic of stating the obvious, let’s address an issue that has plagued the Hurricanes for years: the power play.  They can ill-afford another season in which they finish in the lower third of the league on the man advantage.  Hopefully, the new additions (up front and on the blueline) can help right the ship but, as the preseason showed (2/25, 8%), it won’t be easy.

Of course, offense isn’t the sole responsibility of the forward corps.  With newly-minted captain Jordan Staal (we’ll ignore his co-captaincy in 17-18) leading the way and head coach Rod Brind’Amour calling the shots, the Hurricanes will be a defensively responsible team again in 19-20.  The key will be increasing their goal-scoring output and a more effective power play will be instrumental in achieving that.

Defense

Not content with retooling the forwards, Hurricanes GM Don Waddell set about shaking up the backend over the summer and into training camp.  On June 24, Calvin de Haan was packaged off to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Forsberg and defenseman Gustav Forsling.

Waddell followed this up by making a splash in the free-agent market, signing former Toronto defender Jake Gardiner to a four-year contract on September 6.

With the arrival of Gardiner, a left-shooting and offensively inclined blueliner, the writing was on the wall for Justin Faulk‘s future in Carolina.  After a rumored deal with the Anaheim Ducks failed to materialize, Faulk was shipped to the St. Louis Blues along with a fifth-round pick in 2020 for defenseman Joel Edmundson, forward prospect Dominik Bokk, and a seventh-round pick in 2021.

Faulk’s departure opens his place on the first power-play unit, a spot that should be filled by Dougie Hamilton, who is coming off an 18 goal, 39 point season.  Gardiner’s arrival will lessen the blow of Faulk being gone while Edmundson brings a defense-first game with plenty of physicality.

Stalwarts Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce promise to continue their ascent.  While both have been praised for their strong defensive play, both players have developed a bit of an offensive touch.

Slavin has been the more consistent point producer, averaging just under 29 points per season, but Pesce is finding that part of his game with more regularity.  Last season saw him post career-highs in goals (7), assists (22), and points (29).

With Trevor van Riemsdyk sidelined following shoulder surgery, two spots (at least temporarily) were open during camp.  Vying for those coveted spots were Haydn Fleury, Jake Bean, Roland McKeown, Chase Priskie, and Forsling.  Now, with Bean and Priskie being assigned to Charlotte and Forsling on waivers, the defensive picture is much clearer:

How Fleury handles himself will loom large until van Riemsdyk can return to action.  If the Hurricanes can maintain their defensive acumen from last season, it’ll go a long way towards another playoff berth.

Now, on to my biggest area of concern…

Goaltending

The 2018-19 season bore witness to the most consistent goaltending that the Carolina Hurricanes have received in a very long time.  Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney held the fort and helped the Hurricanes stay in the playoff mix.  The opening of free agency saw McElhinney head out for Tampa Bay, removing one half of a successful netminding tandem.

Veteran James Reimer arrived in the trade that saw the end of the Scott Darling Era.  Reimer, who has been a starter in his career, is coming looking to prove himself after an underwhelming stint in Florida.

The Hurricanes’ team defense is much tighter than what he saw with the Panthers, a fact that should bode well for a rebound season.  His career GAA (2.81) and SV% (.914) show that Reimer can be a solid if unspectacular option.

Ideally, Mrazek can duplicate his performance from last season.  The fiery Czech is a fierce competitor.  If he can use that emotion to his advantage and limit it from distracting him, then he’ll be good to go.  While I’m not completely sold on Reimer as a 1B, I do think he can be reliable in more of a traditional backup role.  Of course, that all depends on how he and Mrazek perform this season.

If we see more streaks like this, we can all rest a bit easier.

Defensive Outlook

2018-19:

221 goals against; 2.7 per game; 7th in NHL

PK: 195/239; 81.59%; 8th in NHL

The addition of Edmundson to Slavin and Pesce gives the Hurricanes a solid trio of defensively responsible blueliners, offset by the offensive flair of Hamilton and Gardiner.  If Fleury, McKeown, and van Riemsdyk (upon his return) can play solid games and minimize mistakes, Carolina should be in good shape defensively.

The Hurricanes finished in the top third of the league in goals against and penalty killing, two areas that must remain up to snuff if the offense misfires.  Where Carolina’s forwards need to drive the play, the defensemen must continue to frustrate the opposition and refuse to yield when facing counterattacks.

The tight defensive system that Brind’Amour has in place won’t call for either goaltender to be spectacular, and that’s not a knock.  Yes, they will occasionally be tasked with making highlight-reel saves but, more often than not, they’ll simply have to read the play, anticipate, and react.  I don’t expect any huge steps forward but I don’t believe there will be any regression.

Expectations

Following their most successful season in over a decade, the Carolina Hurricanes have undergone a significant retooling: a new (old) captain, new forwards, new defensemen, and a new backup.  At the end of the day, they’re a more balanced team but, with divisional rivals making improvements of their own, the Hurricanes can’t rest on their laurels if they want to make a second consecutive postseason appearance.

The new additions may need additional time to gel with their linemates and fully acclimate to Brind’Amour’s systems.  The power play will likely see significant changes in personnel, and that’s fine.  Very little has worked for Carolina’s man-advantage so taking the time to overhaul things can’t make things much worse (please don’t let me come to regret saying that).

If the Hurricanes can bump up their goals-for and keep their goals-against in line, then they have every chance of pushing for a second or third place divisional finish.  Yeah, that might not sound like a lot, but I want to take a reasoned and realistic approach.

Besides, the key is getting into the playoffs.  With another year under their belts and the experience of this spring, the Hurricanes can do even more damage this year.

Where do you think the Hurricanes finish in the division?  In the conference?  How well do you think the new additions will fit in?  How do you feel about the goaltending?