I will be rating each team on three different areas which of course are goalies, defensemen and forward. The ratings are from 1 to 10. The rating consists of his personal ability and his importance to the team. This means that a player who scores way more points might get the same rating as someone who does not. There are two categories that i will rate: Every position as whole and then every single player. I will also put in the lines that i think/hope they will play next season. Then last i will give a grade to the whole team.
Carolina Hurricanes
Goalies:
Cam Ward: A living legend in the Hurricanes squad. In my opinion one of the best goalies in the NHL. Was the Conn Smythe winner when Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. Is still relatively young as a goalie. Rating: 10
Brian Boucher: Good backup, but Ward has been among the top in starts in the NHL. Maybe Hurricanes can offload him a little bit now. Rating: 8
Justin Peters: If Boucher aqcuisition backfires he will return to backup, but otherwise it is AHL for him. Rating: 6
If Boucher playes well Hurricanes have a really solid duo. If not Peters will have to backup and then things will be harder for them. Ward is a top goalie and can be relied to complete his task at all times. Rating: 9
Defensemen:
Joni Pitkänen: A really good offensive d-man. Plays nearly 25 minuter per game with Joe Corvo. He will have to form a new pair, but hopefully things will go well. Rating: 9
Jamie McBain: Played a good season first season in the National Hockey League. Looking to establish himself as a top 4 defenseman. Good in both directions of the ice. Rating: 8
Tomas Kaberle: Elite puck moving player who got to taste the Stanley Cup last season. Will replace ad perhaps be even better than Joe Corvo who left to Boston. Rating: 9
Derek Joslin: Moved to Carolina from San Jose and got a new two year deal. Relatively unproven, but has many years to do that. Rating: 7
Jay Harrison: Got his first full season in the NHL. Has been a regular AHL player, but is looking to establish himself as a top-6 defenseman. He is 28 years old. Rating: 7
Tim Gleason: Top-4 defenseman in Hurricanes squad. Good in defensive denseman, but like so many other good defenders he lacks offensive skills. Still very important for the hurricanes. Rating: 8
Bryan Allen: Easily top-6 defenseman in any team. Like Gleason, brings good defensive play and adds some offensive talents. Moved from Florida late last season and hopefully will find a new home in Carolina. Rating: 8
Carolina has a really good blue line and with Ward in the goal it will be hard to score for them. Overall really impressive and even though it is not the average i give them Rating: 9
Forwards
Jiri Tlusty: Signed, again, a one year extension with the Hurricanes. Has good stick skills, but lacks defensive ability. Does not get much minutes. Rating: 7
Brandon Sutter: 22 year old played all 82 games last season. He scored 14 goals and added 15 assists. If Skinner plays as a wing he will probably center the second line. Rating: 8
Anthony Stewart: Came from Atlanta/Winnipeg to add some size to the team due to the loss of Erik Cole for free agency. He is not as good as Cole but not a bad player either. Rating: 7
Eric Staal: He is the franchise player in Carolina. In my opinion one of the best centers in the NHL. He is big and has really good stick handling skills, that is quite rare. Rating: 10
Jeff Skinner: The expectations on him after a Calder trophy winning season are huge. Carolina lines will go through some modifications and he will fight for a place next to Eric Staal. Rating: 9
Jerome Samson: Played in 23 games averaging less than 7 minutes per game. He got two assists in those games. Suitable for the fourth line, is quite young, but is not likely to improve much. Rating: 6
Tuomo Ruutu: The second line right winger scored 19 goals to go with 38 assists. Got a "consolation price" by being part of gold-medal winning Finnish national team in the world championships. Good two way forward who is important for the Canes. Rating: 9
Alexei Ponikarovsky: Decent winger who might moved from Kings to Canes during the free agency. Probably third line left wing in the coming season. Former 61 points scorer might still have something to give. Rating: 8
Chad LaRose: Good third line right winger. Scored 16 goals and added 15 assists. Would from a good third line with Ponikarovsky and Tlusty. Rating: 8
Jussi Jokinen: Good sniper who was dropped from 30 goals to 19. Hopefully will have a bounce back season. Plays as first line left-winger, but in my opinion that spot should go to sensation Jeff Skinner. Rating: 8
Patrick Dwyer: Played 80 games with the Hurricanes last season. Decent right winger for the fourth line, but in my opinion Carolina should use some younger players like Zach Boychuk, Zac Dalpe. Rating: 7
Tim Brent: Perhaps a fourth line center, but by any standard not integral to Hurricanes. i would like to see Zach Boychuk in his position. Rating: 7
Overall Carolina has a bunch of good players, but it fails in comparison to the best squads in the league. Some unproven young talent coming and perhaps they will prove my evaluation too weak, but... Rating: 8
Lines
Skinner-Staal-Ruutu
Jokinen-Sutter-Stewart
Ponikarovsky-Boychuk-LaRose
Tlusty-Brent-Dwyer
Pitkanen-Kaberle
Harrison-Gleason
Allen-McBain
Ward
Overall a good squad and knowing that the top two lines will play a lot i will give the Carolina team Rating: 9
Key Factors
+Top goalie
+Some top prospects
+Defensive talent
-Some unproven players
-Not a usual playoff team
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