Gold: Canes add strength to strength in hopes of deep playoff run

By Adam Gold, 99.9 FM The Fan host

FINALLY!

Four and a half months removed from the unceremonial end to the Carolina Hurricanes’ fourth straight playoff run the team takes the ice Wednesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PNC Arena.

Game 7 against the New York Rangers was lemon juice in the Canes’ paper cut. The inability to score coupled with a New York power play operating at peak efficiency doomed Carolina to a second round exit for the second consecutive year.

Some called it regression. “Why isn’t Carolina getting better?” I guess, that’s natural. The Hurricanes got to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019, and that somehow became the bar over which to climb. That they haven’t gotten over it – or even equaled that run since – has had some questioning what this team needs.

The second playoff year, the bubble hockey season, saw them lose in the conference quarterfinals to Boston. In 2021, Tampa Bay was the victor in a series highlighted again by a huge gap in special teams prowess. Again, last year, that same issue surfaced.

Offseason additions should improve Canes offense

So, the Hurricanes tried to address those issues. Brent Burns was brought in from San Jose to not only run the top power play unit, but to also log a ton of ice time along side Jaccob Slavin. Burns is a multiple All Star and a former Norris Trophy winner that might help give the Hurricanes the best defensive tandem in the NHL.

Max Pacioretty was acquired from Vegas to provide goal-scoring punch. And, while the six-time 30-goal scorer will spend the first four months recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, if Pacioretty returns and reclaims most of his game he’ll help the Canes on the power play and within the top six forward group.

Paul Stastny was added late in the summer to provide depth down the middle, but also has the versatility to play on the wing. And, even at age 36, still possesses the ability to get to the front of the net and score big goals.

Those are just some of the additions. The real improvement in this team, however, will come from the existing core. The secret to taking the next – or, final – step is the improvement in Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov, Martin Necas, Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

Aho and Teravainen were good in the postseason last year, but they weren’t great. Svechnikov was mostly non-productive, even though he didn’t play poorly. Same with Jarvis. Hard to argue with how the rookie winger played, but the points did not reflect his quality, and the last I checked we still determine winners by goals on the board.

Brind'Amour starts season with his strongest lineup yet

This is the best roster Rod Brind’Amour has rolled out in his head coaching tenure. The Hurricanes’ organizational depth is such that prized prospect Jack Drury didn’t make the opening night roster and will start the season in the American Hockey League. I’m sure the season will reveal some weaknesses in the lineup and those will have to be addressed. But, for now, the 23 that made the opening roster are as good as anyone could hope.

The Carolina Hurricanes are bonafide Stanley Cup contenders. Pretty cool in the Silver Anniversary season.

Here’s how they’ll line up tonight:

Teravainen-Aho-Jarvis

Svechnikov-Kotkaniemi-Necas

Stastny-Staal-Fast

Martinook-Stepan-Kase

Slavin-Burns

Skjei-Pesce

De Haan-Chatfield

Andersen

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Stormwatch with yours truly rolls at 6:30 live from PNC Arena. Opening faceoff is slated for about 7:14 p.m. Stay tuned for the “Morning After” podcast which drops after every Hurricanes game. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts.