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Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Bold Predictions for 2020-21 NHL Season

By Matthew Nidiffer

Aug 17, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) takes a shot during warmups prior to game four of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) takes a shot during warmups prior to game four of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 30, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) has a shoving match with Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) has a shoving match with Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Carolina Hurricanes Win the New Central Division

This mildly spicy take kicks off my list of three bold predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2020-21 NHL season.

For starters, the Carolina Hurricanes got off a bit easy (in my opinion) with the new division realignment. They could’ve just as easily been slated in the new East Division, which houses the usual Eastern Conference powerhouses: Boston, Washington, and Philadelphia. Instead, the Canes’ main worries lie within the likes of Tampa Bay, Dallas, and maybe even Columbus.

With Tampa Bay losing Nikita Kucherov for the season, and Dallas losing Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop for at least half the season (alongside their recent COVID concerns that has postponed the start of their season), the Carolina Hurricanes have an opportunity to outlast the competition and snag the #1 seed in the new Central Division. That is, if they can themselves keep injury and COVID at bay, which is another story and challenge in and of itself.

TL;DR, the Canes could win the new Central Division, and this take isn’t quite as spicy as it first appears. I rate it a 1,000 on the Hockey Scoville Scale that I just invented for the purposes of this article. You’re welcome.

Hockey Scoville Scale Rating: 1,000.

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