Defending Stanley Cup champs open camp with some question marks

September 14, 2006
(CP) - Can the 'Canes repeat?

Few people around the league think so as the Carolina Hurricanes showed up for physicals Thursday on the eve of their training camp. "That's an easy thing for people to predict because it is hard to repeat," Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said from Raleigh, N.C. "Not many teams have done it. Certainly you need to have everything going for you. With that being said, I think our team is going to be real strong."

The critics don't like what's going on with Carolina's blue-line. Aaron Ward left via free agency to the New York Rangers and Frantisek Kaberle (shoulder surgery) has been lost for up to six months, leaving Carolina without two of the six blue-liners who skated in Game 7 of last June's Stanley Cup final.

Rutherford responded by signing free agent David Tanabe and also inviting veterans Jason Woolley and Cale Hulse to attend camp on tryouts.

"And we have Andrew Hutchinson and Anton Babchuk that played some last year," said Rutherford. "I think we're fine there."

The 'Canes would have loved to welcome 2005 first-round pick Jack Johnson into the fold this season but the third overall pick resisted another approach from the team this week and remains adamant that he'll play another season at the University of Michigan.

Rutherford would not comment but other league sources indicated Thursday that the Hurricanes are willing to part with the highly touted prospect for the right price. That might be another way for Carolina to bolster its blue-line this season if a deal comes together.

Up front, the Hurricanes also lost forwards Matt Cullen (N.Y. Rangers), Mark Recchi (Pittsburgh), Josef Vasicek (Dallas) and Doug Weight (St. Louis) while adding Scott Walker from Nashville and Trevor Letowski from Columbus. Carolina is also without first-line winger Cory Stillman (shoulder surgery) for half a season.

"We lost some good quality people, those were great guys," star centre Eric Staal said Thursday from Raleigh. "You become a family when you're together for a full season and win a championship. To have them gone is tough. But we've got great guys coming into our room that will fit in nicely."

The Hurricanes hope young stars such as Staal, Erik Cole and Justin Williams continue to lift their games and help fill the void.

"Andrew Ladd is another one," Rutherford said, referring to the 20-year-old sophomore winger from Maple Ridge, B.C. Big things are expected this season from Carolina's first pick, fourth overall, in the 2004 NHL entry draft.

Last year it was Staal who took a huge step. The 22-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont., exploded for 100 points (45-55) in his second NHL season. He also added 28 points (9-19) in 25 playoff games.

"He'll just be more used to the league and understand how people will key in on him this season," Rutherford said of Staal. "Once he got going halfway through the season everyone recognized the talent level he had and realized they had to focus on him but he was able to work through that.

"He was a major reason we won the Cup. And he'll continue to get better and better."

Staal understands what's at stake.

"There's a lot more expectations," he said. "You put more pressure on yourself. But I'm going to try and do the same things as I did last year, play my game, help my team offensively and basically win games."

In goal, Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cam Ward, 22, begins his first season as the undisputed starting goalie after being the backup to the departed Martin Gerber for most of last season.

"The only surprise about Cam Ward to us is that he jumped forward and did it as young as he did and as early as he did in his career," said Rutherford. "There's no surprise to us as to his ability. I know I get questions from people comparing him to other goalies who didn't have good sophomore years. I think the goalies they're comparing him to are not the same goalie with the same mental makeup that Cam has. I feel pretty strong about him as we go forward. He'll have a great career.

"Certainly there'll be more pressure on him this year. But we also have another good goalie in John Grahame to complement him."