Carolina Hurricanes 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NHL Hockey season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NHL Hockey Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NHL in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2009 NHL Season Previews here.

Carolina Hurricanes 2008-’09 record:
45-30-7, 97 points (2nd in Southeast, 6th in East)

Carolina Hurricanes 2008-’09 playoffs:
Defeated New Jersey Devils 4-3; defeated Boston Bruins 4-3; lost to Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0

Carolina gave their fans something to really cheer about for the first time since that Cup run, finishing the regular season with a 45-30-7 record, which earned their first playoff berth in 3 seasons. They quickly became the Cardiac Canes, scoring winning goals late in games throughout the first two rounds as they upset New Jersey and Boston en route to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Carolina met their match when the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins shut them down. The microcosm of the series was the struggle of the Staal brothers: Pittsburgh’s Jordan prevented big brother Eric from muster a consistent attack and that sealed the Canes’ fate.

Carolina Hurricanes 2009 Preview

Carolina Hurricanes General manager: Jim Rutherford (492-462-160, 15th NHL year, 1st team)

Carolina Hurricanes Coach: Paul Maurice (377-376-142, 13th NHL year, 2nd team)

Carolina Hurricanes Captain: Rod Brind’Amour

Carolina Hurricanes Top Returning Scorer: LW Ray Whitney (24 goals, 53 assists, 77 points)

Carolina Hurricanes Top Returning Goalie: Cam Ward (39-23-5, 2.44, .916)

Carolina Hurricanes Key Additions: D Jay Harrison; RW Steven Goertzen; RW Tom Kostopoulos; D Andrew Alberts; D Aaron Ward; C Stephane Yelle.

Carolina Hurricanes Key Subtractions: C Dwight Helminen; RW Patrick Eaves; D Frantisek Kaberle; D Dennis Seidenberg; LW Ryan Bayda; D Anton Babchuk.

Carolina Hurricanes Top Line: LW Ray Whitney, C Eric Staal, RW Erik Cole

Carolina Hurricanes Top Defensive Pairing: Tim Gleason, Joe Corvo

The biggest strength for the Hurricanes is at center, where Eric Staal, Matt Cullen, Jokinen and aging captain Rod Brind’Amour give the team reams of depth. Along with strong scoring wingers like Ray Whitney, Sergei Samsonov, Chad LaRose (who was the team’s most dangerous player outside of Staal in the playoffs), Ruutu and Cole, there is more than enough talent for a very diverse attack.

Despite their strong showing on defense in last season’s playoffs, the Canes lack a truly dominant defender. Joe Corvo, Anton Babchuk and Joni Pitkanen are all solid two way players and Ward, Tim Gleason and Andrew Alberts are all responsible defenders. However, there is no elite blueliner here and that makes this a solid but unintimidating unit.

Carolina also boasts one of the league’s best goalkeepers in Ward. He is a likely inclusion on the Canadian Olympic team and is one of the best technical keepers in hockey. In short, he was a human highlight reel throughout the playoffs and already has hoisted the Stanley Cup. Carolina is rock solid between the pipes.

2009 Carolina Hurricanes Goaltending:

Ward posted franchise record nine-game win streak late in the season to boost Hurricanes into playoffs, then 2005-06 Conn Smythe Trophy winner backstopped them to upset wins over Devils and Bruins, outplaying Vezina winners Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas. Very economical butterfly goalie who always seems to be in the right spot at the right time. Credited much of his success last season to introduction of former Vezina winner Tom Barrasso as full-time goalie coach.

2009 Carolina Hurricanes Player To Watch:

C/RW Zach Boychuk. Nearly earned a spot with Hurricanes last season following strong camp, playing two games before returning to WHL to score 28 goals in 43 games with Lethbridge and help Canada to world junior title. Patient with puck and very explosive when scoring opportunity arises. Has battled injury woes much of his career, leading to worries about whether he can physically handle NHL.

2009 Carolina Hurricanes Offense:

Staal had 13 goals and 16 assists in Carolina’s last 20 regular-season games. The Hurricanes went 22-3-2 when he scored a goal, and carried that over to the playoffs. They won seven of the eight games in which he had a goal. He has missed only one game due to injury, and has played in 336 consecutive games — the second-longest active run in the NHL.

Carolina Hurricanes 2009 Season Predictions

Ended two-year playoff drought with run to Eastern Conference finals. Responded to coaching change when Maurice replaced Peter Laviolette in December. Mobile, puck-moving back end is ideal for new NHL.

We predict that the Carolina Hurricanes will finish 2nd in the NHL Southeast, 8th seed in East: 91 points.

Carolina Hurricanes Betting

Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Odds: +3000
Carolina Hurricanes Eastern Conference Odds: +1400
Carolina Hurricanes Southeast Odds: +300

Will the Carolina Hurricanes will go all the way to the Stanley Cup? Or, will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Carolina Hurricanes betting at our feature sportsbooks. Carolina Hurricanes Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of money placing informed, smart Carolina Hurricanes bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.

Join Sportsbook.com Today and Bet on the Carolina Hurricanes and receive a 50% Sportsbook Bonus!