Season Review:
After winning the Stanley Cup a year ago, the Hurricanes were looking to repeat. Unfortunately, the rest of the NHL didn't share the same view. Carolina embarassed itself by not being able to make the playoffs after winning the Cup a year ago. Injuries to key players (like Stillman, Kaberle, Cole to name a few) were part of the cause, but underperformances by key players (re: Staal) were a large part of it. Perhaps they were stuck in a post-Cup daze early in the season?

Offseason Needs:
Defense was a weak spot last year for Carolina. They were so desperate for a defenseman that they traded away stud prospect Jack Johnson for a pair of legs they could use in the NHL today (the okay, but unremarkable Tim Gleason). A defenseman who can play the PP would be their #1 target. Acquiring another top 6 forward who can drive to the net & score would also be a need. Thay person would round out a fearsome top 6 with Brind'Amour, Whitney, Cole, Staal, and Stillman.

Season Outlook:
Carolina has a perfect mix of veterans and youth to go far this season. However, they need to avoid the pitfalls and injuries from last year if they want to get back on track. Cam Ward needs to show why he won the Conn Smythe on a more consistent basis. Carolina's biggest problem is they need to be more consistent in all aspects of their game on a nightly basis or else they'll find themselves in trouble again in their increasingly difficult division. Some nights they'd paly like Cup winners while other times their defense would be atrocious. I still think they have too much talent to miss the playoffs.

Sorry but I'm not a fan of this write-up. Couple things I disagree with:

1. You underrated Gleason. He still has lots of potential. Johnson wouldn't sign with us so Jim Rutherford got the best possible deal in return. He said that himself. Until Johnson has actually done anything in the nhl the canes are winners of this trade.

2. We could use a powerplay quarterbacking defenseman but we don't need it. The canes powerplay operates off the half-boards and our forwards take care of that. The acquisition of Jeff Hamilton and Matt Cullen as well as the return of the real Eric Staal (hopefully) should rejuvenate our stinking powerplay.

3. To say the canes need a top 6 forward is absolutely crazy! The top six we iced last year towards the end of the season was:

Stillman-Staal-Cole
Whitney-Brind'amour-Williams

We also had Scott Walker who could be a top 6 guy on many teams. Teams around the league would kill for the top six. The canes are now probably the deepest offensive team in the league. I think you just forgot Justin Williams, an all-star team forward, since you left him out. Perhaps just do better research next time.