A somewhat surprising run to the 2019 Eastern Conference finals meant that expectations were higher on the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. A trip to the 2020 postseason, however, ended the same way: a lopsided series loss to the Boston Bruins.
The 2020-21 season puts the Canes in a new division -- the Central, away from most of their usual Metropolitan Division foes -- but expectations for another playoff berth remain.
What should fans expect out of the team in 2021? Here's everything you need to know before opening night:
Big question: How much of a story will Dougie Hamilton's expiring contract be?
The Canes have developed a clear identity under coach Rod Brind'Amour. They have young stars to build around and have impressed in each of their past two playoff runs, showing that they're ready for more.
However, one of their top defensemen, Hamilton, is entering the final season of the six-year, $34.5 million contract he signed with Calgary in 2015. Can the Canes agree to keep him long term (and are they willing to shell out the going rate for a top-tier defenseman in his prime, which is far more than the $5.75 million he's getting this season)? Or could he potentially be traded for assets -- or walk away for nothing this summer? Stay tuned to this lingering storyline.
Did realignment hurt or help?
Things were getting crowded in the Metropolitan Division, so the Canes don't mind the breathing room in the hodgepodge Central. A top-four spot, which means a trip to the playoffs, is very much up for grabs, and Carolina is a good bet to secure one of those.
Offseason comings and goings, plus the cap situation
The Hurricanes have $932,261 in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly. The Canes had their captain, Justin Williams, retire and said goodbye to defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk and Joel Edmundson as well as goalie Anton Forsberg. Carolina signed longtime New York Rangers forward Jesper Fast to replace Williams in the lineup and inked veteran defenseman Joakim Ryan to a two-way deal.
Bold prediction
Ryan Dzingel bounces back. The 28-year-old joined the Canes in the summer of 2019 as a free agent. His first season in Carolina was unfortunately his worst as a pro, as he scored only eight goals in 64 games (for context, he had 26 the season before that). Though Dzingel ended 2019-20 skating on the fourth line, expect him to work his way back up to the middle six (with middle-six-like production).
Breakout candidate: Martin Necas
The 21-year-old had a solid rookie campaign, scoring 16 goals (third on the team) and 36 points (fifth) in 64 games. Expect him to continue that momentum. And if Necas improves his play away from the puck, he'll earn more playing time from Brind'Amour (Necas averaged just over 14 minutes per game last season).
Biggest strength: The top line
If you haven't been paying enough attention to Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen, it's time to start now. The trio (average age of 23) has developed incredible chemistry. These three are only getting better (especially Svechnikov), and they have enough talent to keep you entertained with their blend of puck possession and skill.
Biggest weakness: Goaltending
Despite a plethora of goaltending options available on the free-agent and trade markets this offseason, the Canes have decided to stick with Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Although it's not the worst option -- the duo ranked 17th in the league last season with a combined .903 save percentage -- there were plenty of ways Carolina could have upgraded, but it chose not to.
Hurricanes in NHL Rank
No. 27: Sebastian Aho, C
No. 48: Dougie Hamilton, D
No. 58: Jaccob Slavin, D
No. 88: Andrei Svechnikov, RW
Prospect perspective
Pipeline ranking: 11
Prospects in the top 100: No. 46 Seth Jarvis (LW), No. 60 Ryan Suzuki (C), No. 73 Jake Bean (D)
Fantasy facts to know
Sebastian Aho has cemented himself as a first-round fantasy asset, and Dougie Hamilton will compete to be among the top five defensemen. Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen are also strong choices, with Svechnikov collecting a sneaky number of hits.
The Canes have some late-round options with upside, including Jaccob Slavin and Vincent Trocheck, who would both play at elite levels if called upon to fill in for an injury at the top of the depth chart.
Petr Mrazek got enough separation on James Reimer last season, so the upside of him backstopping the majority of games for an improving Hurricanes squad is something to consider if you don't draft a goalie early. -- Sean Allen