Hurricanes bolster defense with Hamilton, de Haan, add Mrazek in goal

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is taking a look at where each team stands. Today, the Carolina Hurricanes:
The Carolina Hurricanes are counting on forward Andrei Svechnikov, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, to develop into a franchise player and usher in a new era.

Heading into his first offseason as owner, Tom Dundon promised widespread changes throughout the organization after Carolina was 36-35-11 and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth straight season. Rod Brind'Amour was hired as coach May 8, replacing Bill Peters, who left to take the same position with the Calgary Flames. That same day, Don Waddell, who oversaw business operations for four years, replaced Ron Francis as general manager in a reconfigured front office that will rely on collaborative decision-making.
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The Hurricanes have been active in reshaping the roster, hoping to change their culture. Forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin were traded to the Flames on June 23 for forward Micheal Ferland, defenseman Dougie Hamilton and defenseman prospect Adam Fox. There's been speculation forward Jeff Skinner and defenseman Justin Faulk could be traded in the coming months, leaving Carolina with as many as 10 new players to start the 2018-19 season.
Here is what the Hurricanes look like today:

Key arrivals

Andrei Svechnikov, F:The 18-year-old has speed, power, puck-handling skills and the ability to finish. The Hurricanes hope he will quickly develop into an elite scorer in the NHL after he scored 40 goals in 44 games for Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League last season. ... ... Micheal Ferland, F: The 26-year-old had NHL career highs in goals (21) and points (41) last season. He brings size (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) and a much-needed physical presence to the forward group. ... Dougie Hamilton, D:The big, rangy defenseman (6-6, 210) has improved his goal total in each of his six NHL seasons and scored 17 in 2017-18, tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old has three seasons remaining on a six-year contract. ... Calvin de Haan, D:The 27-year-old unrestricted free agent signed a four-year, $18.2 million contract on July 3. He adds depth to the left side on a defense that was already among the best groups in the NHL. ... Petr Mrazek, G:After splitting time between the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers last season, Mrazek, 26, agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.5 million contract July 1. He will challenge Scott Darling for playing time. ... Rod Brind'Amour, coach: It is the 47-year-old's first job as NHL coach. He was an assistant and development coach with the Hurricanes since June 7, 2011. He played 694 games over 10 seasons for Carolina, winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Key departures

Cam Ward, G:After 13 seasons with the Hurricanes, Ward signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1 as a UFA. He is Carolina's all-time leader in wins (318) and shutouts (27). ... Elias Lindholm, F:The No. 5 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft never emerged as a scoring threat for the Hurricanes; he scored 64 goals in 374 games in five seasons. ... Noah Hanifin, D:His offensive game grew in his first three seasons in the NHL, including career highs in goals (10) and points (32) in 2017-18. But the No. 5 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft struggled at times with his defensive game. ... Derek Ryan, F:The 31-year-oldsigned a three-year, $9.375 contract with the Flames on July 1. He had 38 points in 80 games last season. ... Bill Peters, coach: The 53-year-old went 137-138-53 in four seasons in his first NHL job.

On the cusp

Martin Necas, F: The Hurricanes believe the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft can step up as a playmaking center. The 19-year-old played one NHL game in 2017-18 before returning to the Czech Extraliga, the top professional league in the Czech Republic, where he scored nine goals and had eight assists in 24 games for HC Kometa Brno. ... Valentin Zykov, F: The 23-year-old scored 33 goals in 63 games with Charlotte to lead the American Hockey League last season. Zykov (6-1, 224) used his size to score three goals in 10 games with the Hurricanes at the end of the season. A second-round pick (No. 37) in the 2013 draft, Zykov was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in a trade for forward Kris Versteeg on Feb. 28, 2016. … Saku Maenalanen, F:The Hurricanes signed the 24-year-old forward to a one-year, two-way contract May 18. He was a fifth-round pick (No. 125) of the Nashville Predators in the 2013 draft and had 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 59 games last season for Karpat of Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.

What they still need

Sebastian Aho moved from left wing to center at the end of last season and would be a quality top-line center if he stays there. But the Hurricanes could use more depth at the position after the departures of Lindholm and Ryan this offseason. Jordan Staal's 46 points led Carolina centers in 2017-18.

Fantasy focus

Hamilton has ranked seventh among NHL defensemen in even-strength points (94) over the past three seasons. Even though he regressed in points last season (44 after scoring 50 in 2016-17), he was tied for the most goals among NHL defensemen and was second at the position in shots on goal (270) behind Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks (332). Faulk's points-per-game average has declined in each of the past three seasons, and his 12 even-strength points last season ranked fifth among Hurricanes defensemen. Hamilton was brought in to be Carolina's No. 1 defenseman and power-play anchor, and is ranked among the top 15 players at his position from a fantasy standpoint with a chance to help the young Hurricanes take that elusive next step. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

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