4 Big Questions for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2020-21
There are four big questions looming for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2020-2021.
For the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL as a whole, the puck drops for the 2020-2021 NHL season in about a week. Just like in every new season, there are feelings of excitement mixed with expectations. Except unlike seasons past, we have a 56-game schedule with new divisions and a new format. This will make for some unknowns and the unexpected.
We know we can depend on the NHL’s ultimate prize of the Stanley Cup being awarded. Something new in regards to Lord Stanley’s Cup is that the Hurricanes are now considered legitimate contenders by the majority of hockey people. Not too bad for “a bunch of jerks.”
In the 2019 postseason, the Canes were one of the Wild Card teams that wreaked havoc on top seeds across the bracket, knocking out the Washington Capitals after Alex Ovechkin literally knocked out the then-rookie Andrei Svechnikov in a fight. Somehow that catapulted Carolina to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, last season’s Playoff push did not last as long, but Carolina absolutely handled the New York Rangers in a three-game sweep in the Play-In Round before being knocked out by Boston for the second straight year.
The Hurricanes did not make a huge splash this offseason and did not suffer any marquee losses. So why are the Canes one of the more exciting teams heading into this season? Their difference makers are another year older, and the core of their team has been together for yet another year. For a young team, that alone can be a big deal.
If the Canes are going to get past their Boston roadblock, a few questions cannot be ignored. The team’s youth brings us to the first big question facing the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2020-21 NHL Season.
4. Do the Hurricanes have the leadership and experience for a deep playoff run?
Arguably the largest departure for the Carolina Hurricanes this offseason was the retirement of former captain Justin Williams. Williams did not know if he would play in the 2019-2020 season and ended up joining the team midseason. He may not have worn the “C” in his final, partial season, but he scored eight goals in only 20 regular-season games.
Williams won three Stanley Cups in his career and was known as “Mr. Game 7”. Williams was 38-years-old in his final season.
The legendary David Ayres was the only player older than Williams to play for the Hurricanes last season. There are only three players currently rostered in Carolina that are 30-years-old or older.
In fact, the Hurricanes are the second-youngest team in the NHL at 26.17 years of age. Only the New York Rangers are younger. Youth does not always mean lacking experience, but for the Canes, it means exactly that. Over the past two years, Canes have played in 23 Playoff games. The active postseason games played leader on their roster has played in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The team’s official leaders are captain Jordan Staal and alternate captains Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin. Between those three and superstars Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, can the ship stay on course in another strange season? Of course, we also have to factor in Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour, who is no slouch himself, but only time will tell.
3. What happens at the Trade Deadline?
Every NHL Trade Deadline is different; in this flat cap-era, who knows what will happen. For simplicity’s sake, we know most fans want to either add the piece that pushes their team over the edge and earn a Stanley Cup. While others hope not to lose their fan-favorite player or scores of prospects for a one-year rental (the Arizona Coyotes being a huge eye-sore of a recent example).
Adding gasoline to the Trade Deadline fire is the looming Expansion Draft as next year, the 2021-2022 season will be the inaugural season for the Seattle Kraken. Why does this affect Carolina? The Hurricanes are stacked with talent, and teams like that are going to either have to make a move or just watch as that talent walks to Seattle with nothing in return.
Teams have two choices: 1. Protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender, or 2. Protect eight skaters of any combination and one goaltender. The Hurricanes’ worries are going to be caused by their awesome defensive core.
Let us assume that the Canes protect Jaccob Slavin, Dougie Hamilton, and Brady Skjei. That leaves Jake Gardiner, Brett Pesce, and Haydn Fleury all exposed to expansion. All three of those guys would be starting defensemen on probably every team in the NHL.
If we talk about more complicated, however, very possible options, Carolina could trade Dougie Hamilton. It might be a painful move to make, but Hamilton is in a contract year, and it would accomplish a lot. A trade of that magnitude would bring a bounty of prospects and draft picks as well as free up money that is needed to re-sign Andrei Svechnikov to the kind of deal he deserves.
Obviously, anything could happen at the 2021 Trade Deadline, but the Carolina Hurricanes are going to either make a move of some kind or watch as some of its key pieces vanish to the Pacific Northwest.
2. Do the Hurricanes have the goaltending to get the job done?
Last season in the NHL, more and more teams moved away from having a true number one goaltender. Aside from teams with top tier goalies like Carey Price or Connor Hellebuyck, some very successful teams went towards goalie-by-committee.
The Colorado Avalanche split time in goal between in goal, even if it was somewhat because of injury, and was a Game Seven Overtime goal from the Western Conference Finals. Dallas had such a competitive pair that when injury struck, Anton Khudobin carried the Stars to the Cup Finals. The New York Islanders also split time almost to an exact 50-50 split and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In Carolina, the intent did not seem to be that committee style. Instead, Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour seemed to go more with the hot hand. Both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were trusted to put the Hurricanes in a position to win; both succeeded at that.
The 28-year-old Mrazek started in 38 games and posted a record of 21-16-2 with a .905 Save Percentage (SV%) and a goals allowed against (GAA) of 2.69. Riemer is older at 32-years-old and in 24 starts had a record of 14-6-2 with a SV% of .914 and a GAA of 2.66. In the Playoffs, the split was even tighter. Reimer started three games, while Mrazek started five, and both had a SV% around .930.
If an NHL goaltender puts your team in a position to win the game, they have had a good night. For the Hurricanes tandem, is that enough? This shortened season is not the one to wait and see how long a player takes to come out of a rut. Then when a swap is made to plan B, is it consistent enough to help the team succeed? Then how long until you are forced back into the original plan A?
As awesome it would be to be an NHL Head Coach, having to balance a goaltending tandem is not an enviable aspect of the gig. If Brind’Amour can make it work, the Canes could be a surprise this year, even with all of the current expectations.
1. Are the Hurricanes an elite Stanley Cup contender?
If the Carolina Hurricanes can find the leadership needed to excel, manage Dougie Hamilton’s contract, prepare for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, and have some consistent quality goaltending, then there is a much bigger question facing them in 2021.
Are they elite?
No doubt they have some very elite players. Arguably two top 25 NHL forwards and two top 25 NHL defensemen are on the Canes roster. Carolina has had success over the past two seasons after earning some pretty high draft picks in years past. Where the rubber meets the road is the 14 games that Carolina will play against last year’s Stanley Cup Finals teams.
Set aside the possible opinion that Dallas over performed last season in the Playoff bubble, the Stars know what it takes to win big games. Tampa Bay has been a powerhouse for years in the Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman era. Where does Carolina fit competitively?
If you look at the newly dubbed “Discover NHL Central Division” as a whole, Tampa Bay is the top tier team. Then based on last season and expectations etc. Carolina is a tier below alongside Dallas. Columbus, Florida, and Nashville make up tier three, while Chicago and Detroit round the division out.
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To summarize it: Are the Carolina Hurricanes going to allow the Tampa Bay Lightning to run away with the division title? Or will a young but extremely talented team take the next step forward and surprise the NHL?