(Best E Casino) - One of the NHL's best stories during the regular season was the Washington Capitals' late-season charge to win the Southeast Division.
The Carolina Hurricanes didn't enjoy that story.
That's because the Hurricanes were the team that the Capitals outkicked to the finish line, leaving Carolina with no option but to watch the postseason from home. It was the second straight year Carolina missed out on the playoffs since winning the franchise's first Stanley Cup title in 2006.
One thing that was bothersome was how the sports media focused only on Alex Ovechkin's amazing play down the stretch for the Caps and failed to mention how decimated the Carolina roster was due to injuries.
Playing the majority of the second half without captain Rod Brind'Amour and speedy winger Justin Williams, and all of March without sniper Ray Whitney, the 'Canes simply didn't have enough firepower to secure the division title.
At the present time, injuries are also a concern for the Hurricanes. Brind'Amour recently underwent knee surgery, but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, while Williams will miss the next four-to-six months with a torn right Achilles tendon.
The Williams' injury hurts Carolina's scoring depth, but if Brind'Amour can stay healthy the Hurricanes should still be in contention for the Southeast crown.
FORWARDS - While Brind'Amour brings the intangibles and two-way play that every team covets from their captain, there is still no question that centerman Eric Staal is Carolina's top offensive weapon.
At 6-4, 205 pounds, Staal has the size and also the skill to give opposing defenses nightmares. Carolina realized his worth when it recently gave him a seven-year, $57.75 million extension that begins in 2009-10.
Staal set the bar high in 2005-06, when he notched 100 points on 45 goals and 55 assists, but then disappointed with 70 points (30 goals, 40 assists in 82 games during the year following Carolina's Cup victory. Last year, the 23- year-old nearly split the difference between those two seasons, recording 82 points (38g, 44a) in 82 games.
Not having Williams at his disposal for the foreseeable future will hurt Staal's chances at reaching the 100-point mark again, but at least Whitney is healthy.
Whitney was nearly a point per game player for the Hurricanes in 2007-08, posting 61 points (25g, 36a) in 66 games. He'll be stationed at left wing on the top line, but the right wing spot vacated by Williams is still up for grabs.
Brind'Amour, a two-time Selke Award winner (2005-06 & 2006-07) as the league's top defensive forward, will man the center position on the second line. The 38-year-old recorded 82 points in 2006-07 and had 51 points (19g, 32a) in 59 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury last February.
Penciled in as the left wing on the Brind'Amour line is Sergei Samsonov, who was a scrap heap find last year for Carolina after Chicago placed the Russian winger on waivers. The former first-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins clicked with the 'Canes and ended the year with 32 points (14g, 18a) in 32 games.
The Hurricanes were so pleased with Samsonov's play that they signed him to a three-year, $7.6 million deal after the 2007-08 campaign.
Tuomo Ruutu also came over from Chicago in a trade during last season and will be back to bring his brand of physical play to a Hurricanes roster that generally lacks toughness. Ruutu had 33 points (10g, 23a) and 91 penalty minutes in 77 combined games with Carolina and the Blackhawks a year ago.
Patrick Eaves was acquired from Ottawa in another in-season trade that also saw the Hurricanes pick up defenseman Joe Corvo and send forward Cory Stillman and blueliner Mike Commodore to the Senators. Eaves was a 20-goal scorer with Ottawa in 2005-06, but had just five goals and 10 assists in 37 combined games with the Sens and 'Canes last year.
The Hurricanes signed Eaves to a three-year, $4.2 million deal in the offseason.
Also, Matt Cullen, Carolina's third-line center, will try to improve upon a solid 2007-08 performance which saw him tie a career-high with 48 points (13g, 36a).
DEFENSE - The Hurricanes began the process of revamping their defensive corps with the trade for Corvo last year.
The process continued this offseason when Carolina dealt forward Erik Cole, who was tied for third on the 'Canes with 51 points last year, to Edmonton for offensive-minded blueliner Joni Pitkanen.
At 24 years old, Pitkanen is still a raw talent, but has registered 142 points (33g, 109a) in 269 career NHL games. However, his defensive lapses are commonplace as is displayed by the Finn's minus-30 rating in his last 140 contests.
Pitkanen battled injuries in his lone season with Edmonton in 2007-08, but managed eight goals and 18 assists in 63 games.
Meanwhile, Corvo had his best NHL season a year ago, notching 48 points (13g, 35a) in 74 combined games with Ottawa and Carolina. Twenty-one of those points, seven goals and 14 assists, came in 23 games with the Hurricanes.
Tim Gleason is the lone Carolina defensemen with a penchant for rough play and led the 'Canes defense with 84 penalty minutes last year.
Veterans Frantisek Kaberle and Niclas Wallin will return on the blue line for Carolina, while Josef Melichar will get another shot in the NHL. Melichar played for several years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but spent last season in the Swedish Elite League.
GOALTENDING - After winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in Carolina's Stanley Cup title year of 2006, goaltender Cam Ward suffered through a disappointing 2006-07 season.
Last year, Ward, who is still just 24 years old, rebounded with a solid campaign, but Carolina needs him to become more consistent. Ward was 37-25-5 with a 2.75 goals against average and .904 save percentage in 69 games last season.
One promising fact for Carolina is that Ward finished the 2007-08 season strong, going 18-8-2 with a 2.46 GAA and .915 save percentage in his last 29 games of the year.
Michael Leighton played just three games for Carolina last season, but will be the primary backup for the Hurricanes this season. Leighton, 27, played 58 games for Carolina's AHL affiliate in Albany last year.
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The loss of Williams to a serious injury just weeks before the start of the season is not a good omen for the Hurricanes, but head coach Peter Laviolette still has enough firepower on offense to get this team to the postseason. However, if the Hurricanes fall short of the playoffs for the third straight year since winning it all, Laviolette could be out of a job.
