NHL Season Secrets: Uncover the Surprising Strengths, Hidden Weaknesses, and Game-Changing X Factors for Every Team
Coach Rod Brind’Armour has a good pulse on his group and how to get the best out of it. It’s how the Hurricanes finished among the league’s top 10 in both offense and defense a season ago. Yes, the Hurricanes do need to figure out who is going to handle the job at second-line center long term. But if Ehlers and Miller now provide an expected boost to the lineup, then Carolina’s depth will be shinier than ever.
Biggest concern: It’s fair to wonder whether the Hurricanes have the right tandem in net. They’re running it back with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, a pair of netminders who recorded sub-.900 save percentages last season and ranked Carolina 24th in that category across the league (lowest among playoff-bound clubs). The veteran Andersen has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career (and made only 38 appearances his last two seasons), so Kotchetkov has seen more action of late than his partner. But the 26-year-old certainly hasn’t separated himself enough to be anointed as Carolina’s No. 1.
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