Hurricanes season preview: Hamilton, Svechnikov provide added depth

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Oct. 3. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Coach: Rod Brind'Amour (first season)
Last season:36-35-11; sixth place Metropolitan Division

5 KEYS

1. Come together

Following a busy offseason, which included Rod Brind'Amour being named coach to replace Bill Peters, who took the same position with the Calgary Flames, the Hurricanes hope to find chemistry and establish their identity quickly. They know from the past two seasons it's difficult to recover from a slow start and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which they have missed the past nine seasons. They began 4-5-3 last season and 3-6-4 in 2016-17.

Among the additions for Carolina are forward Micheal Ferland and defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who were acquired in a trade from Calgary on June 23, defenseman Calvin de Haan and goaltender Petr Mrazek, who signed as free agents, and rookie forwards Andrei Svechnikov (No. 2 pick in 2018 NHL Draft) and Martin Necas (No. 12 pick in 2017 NHL Draft).

2. Score more

The names of the two practice groups in training camp -- Team Grit and Team Grind -- tell you the identity Brind'Amour wants the Hurricanes to play with, but he also wants them to play with speed and create more offensively. Carolina were 23rd in the NHL in scoring last season (2.74 goals per game) and 20th in 2016-17 (2.59).
"I want to play a style that's fun to watch, No. 1, and that means we're going to skate," Brind'Amour said. "I'm not too concerned how we win. If we win 10-9, I'm good. If we win 2-1, that's even better. But we need to be able to play both. You have to be able to adapt to every game, and I think we have a team that should be able to score more goals than it has in the past."

3. Find center depth

Sebastian Aho will probably begin the season at center, where he ended last season after moving from right wing, but Brind'Amour hasn't committed to keeping the 21-year-old there. With Aho's finishing skill (he led Carolina with 29 goals last season), he might be a better fit on the wing. The problem is Carolina doesn't have a lot of first-line center options.

Jordan Staal, who had 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) last season, is probably better suited for the second or third line. With center Victor Rask, who had 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) last season, out indefinitely following a kitchen accident that required him to have surgery on his right hand Sept. 13, that puts even more focus on Necas. If the 19-year-old is ready to play on the top two lines, Carolina's center situation would be more promising.

4. Veteran leadership

Having Staal, 30, and defenseman Justin Faulk, 26, as co-captains last season didn't work out. They'll remain part of the leadership group this season as alternate captains, but Brind'Amour and general manager Don Waddell thought it was important to have one captain with a strong veteran voice, and they selected forward Justin Williams.
Williams, 36, has won the Stanley Cup three times, including with Carolina in 2006, and understands what it takes to win. Listening to Williams and following his example will be indispensable for a group expected to include at least 12 players 25 and younger, most with no playoff experience in the NHL.

5. Emergence of a No. 1 goaltender

Whether it's Scott Darling or Mrazek, the Hurricanes need one of their goalies to step up and prove he's capable of handling the workload of a No. 1. After being acquired in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks on April 28, 2017, and signing a four-year, $16.6 million contract (average annual value $4.15 million) a week later, Darling struggled, going 13-21-7 with a 3.18 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in an NHL career-high 43 games last season.

Mrazek, who signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract July 1, was plagued by inconsistency with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers last season, when he went 14-13-6 with a 3.03 GAA, a .902 save percentage and four shutouts.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

Svechnikov and Necas are near locks to make the team, but where they'll play is still to be decided. Necas, who played one game with Carolina last season before returning to play for Brno in the Czech Extraliga, might be ready to claim a spot on the top two lines. Brind'Amour and Waddell want to ease Svechnikov into things, so he might start out on the third line.
Rask's injury created an opening for another center, and and it could be filled by 23-year-old Lucas Wallmark, who was selected by Carolina in the fourth round (No. 97) of the 2014 NHL Draft. Valentin Zykov, Warren Foegele, Julien Gauthier, Aleksi Saarela, Janne Kuokkanen and Saku Maenalanen will compete for spots on the wing.

Most intriguing addition

Hamilton's 17 goals last season tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers. His six power-play goals will be a welcome addition to a Hurricanes power play that ranked 22nd in the NHL last season (18.4 percent). The 25-year-old has already played six NHL seasons and along with de Haan, 27, adds valuable experience to a young defense.

Biggest potential surprise

The Hurricanes potentially have a goal-scorer in Foegele, a third-round pick (No. 67) in the 2014 draft with good size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and speed. After the 22-year-old scored 27 goals with Kingston and Erie of the Ontario Hockey League in 2016-17, he scored 28 in 73 games last season with Charlotte of the American Hockey League and scored twice in two games with Carolina.
Foegele will get a longer look in camp with the Hurricanes looking to replace Jeff Skinner, who was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on Aug. 2 after scoring 24 goals last season.

Ready to break through

After leading the AHL with 33 goals last season, Zykov appears ready for the NHL. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (No. 37) in the 2013 NHL Draft, the 23-year-old forward was acquired in a trade for forward Kris Versteeg on Feb. 28, 2016 and had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games with Carolina at the end of last season. The Hurricanes rewarded him with a two-year, $1.35 million contract (AAV $675,000) on June 29.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Valentin Zykov -- Sebastian Aho -- Teuvo Teravainen
Micheal Ferland -- Martin Necas -- Justin Williams
Brock McGinn -- Jordan Staal - Andrei Svechnikov
Warren Foegele -- Lucas Wallmark -- Phillip Di Giuseppe
Jaccob Slavin -- Brett Pesce
Calvin de Haan -- Dougie Hamilton
Justin Faulk -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Scott Darling
Petr Mrazek