As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention -- either mathematically or by losing in the postseason -- we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2017-18, along with three keys to its offseason and a way-too-early prediction of what 2018-19 will hold.
What went wrong
Before the season, I asked more than two dozen players what team they thought was most likely to surprise in 2017-18. The Carolina Hurricanes were a common answer.
Here's what one player said: "They were so hard to play against last year, and they didn't even make the playoffs. They have better goaltending now, they have a few good players, and I have played for their coach [Bill Peters] at tournaments before. I really like him."
That prediction didn't age too well.
The Hurricanes failed to make the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, and endured late-season turmoil when GM Ron Francis was demoted upstairs by new majority owner Tom Dundon. Carolina's postseason absence extends the longest drought in the league.
It's easy to pinpoint the Hurricanes' failure on the big offseason whiff on goaltender Scott Darling. The former Chicago backup inked a four-year deal with the Hurricanes worth an average of $4.15 million per season. He struggled in the new role, with a .887 save percentage and 3.15 GAA while being replaced by Cam Ward as the team's No. 1.
But the struggles went beyond Darling. There were issues of depth at center. The collection of Marcus Kruger, Victor Rask, Derek Ryan, Jordan Staal and (sometimes) Elias Lindholm, while formidable in other aspects of the game, lacked in production. They combined for only 61 goals this season. The team was passive at the trade deadline, at a time they were still in the playoff hunt. And on a micro level, this team tail spinned at the wrong time. A five-game losing streak heading into the trade deadline may have dictated plans, and coincided with fellow Eastern Conference bubble team, the Florida Panthers, becoming red hot.
Keys to the offseason
1. Clarify leadership.
The No. 1 item on the Hurricanes' agenda is hiring a new GM. It appears owner Tom Dundon has wasted no time, as he has already reached out to candidates. Whoever is hired likely has a say in the future of head coach Bill Peters, who has one year remaining on his contract.
One thing about Ron Francis is that he did have a plan -- he was building a winning team built to sustain, albeit slowly. The Hurricanes need to maintain a clear direction moving forward if they are going to break through their playoff hump. However, they want to expedite winning.
2. Be aggressive in free agency.
The Hurricanes can't (and won't) be scared by their free-agency whiffs from the summer of 2017. There is a new owner in charge and soon there will be a new GM calling the shots. Dundon has shown he wants to be aggressive in pumping energy into the franchise; he made a push to up attendance and reportedly is looking to build a new practice facility. The same should go for summer spending.
The Canes have a talented young core that could be supplemented by big acquisitions like Evander Kane, James Neal or James van Riemsdyk (reuniting him with his brother). Signings of those caliber should help reinvigorate fans.
3. Secure the young core.
The Canes already shelled out an extension for defensemen Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin. On this summer's agenda are decisions on restricted free agents Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm and Trevor van Riemsdyk, as well as potential extension candidates in Jeff Skinner and Teuvo Teravainen.
Hanifin is a no-brainer and Lindholm, still just 23, is a good bet to stay as well. A new GM may want to take his time before committing to Skinner and Teravainen; a decision doesn't have to be made on either player until after the 2018-19 season.
Realistic expectation for 2018-19
Death, taxes, and folks around the NHL predicting the Carolina Hurricanes as a breakout team for the upcoming season. Hate to sound like a cliché, but it looks like we're headed down that path yet again.
The reason many in the league believe Carolina is on the cusp because they've done a good job identifying and developing young talent. NHL people also think the Canes are well-coached under Bill Peters, though that hasn't reflected in their end-of-season win totals.
The Canes were plagued by a goaltending quandary in 2017-18. In a best-case scenario, that sorts itself out naturally as Scott Darling (committed through the 2020-21 season) rebounds after a faulty debut in the spotlight. Cam Ward, 34, is an unrestricted free agent and the Canes should move on from him. One option is to bring in a free agent to push the incumbent (perhaps Jonathan Bernier, Carter Hutton or Ondrej Pavelec) and hope Darling flourishes under the pressure; that's a similar situation to what happened in Winnipeg this season with Steve Mason and Connor Hellebuyck.
Add in a high-profile free agent or two up front, and we see the recipe for a rebound season for the Canes. But yeah, you've heard that before.