Caniac Nation....It Is Time!

The NHL season has arrived. 

The Hurricanes open the season on Thursday in the NHL's Premiere in Helsinki, Finland against the Minnesota Wild.  This is a homecoming for  Jussi  Jokinen, Joni Pitkanen and Tuomo Ruutu.  Tuomo Ruutu played for the club team in the arena where the NHL Premiere game is being held prior to coming to North America.  In the off season he lives only a few minutes away from the arena.  After a long off season, the Hurricanes and all of you Caniacs out there should be eager to get the season started.

This year the Hurricanes are led by captain Eric Staal as he begins his first full season as the captain with the retirement of Rod Brind'Amour this summer.  I am looking for a big season from Staal.  The Canes also had a youth movement this off season and it will be interesting to see how the young guys perform.  A lot of eyes will be on first round draft pick Jeff Skinner and he has even been mentioned as a possible Calder Trophy candidate.

The Canes have also brought back a couple of veteren defensman in Joe Corvo and Anton Babchuk.  Corvo was traded to Washington at the deadline last season and Babchuk returns after a year playing in Russia.  The Canes have some youth on defense as well, but I am looking to the leadership of Tim Gleason, Joni Pitkanen and Joe Corvo to bring the young guys along. 

Last season was a difficult one for goalie Cam Ward.  He had issues with his back and then received a nasty laceration on his leg from the skate of Rick Nash that kept him out for several games.  I am looking for Cam to regain the form he had when the Canes won the Stanley Cup in 2006.

No one seems to give the Canes much of a chance this year of making the playoffs.  Well, this Caniac sees the Canes making the playoffs and contending.

We get to see this Thursday what the Canes will be bringing to the table....or should I say ice.

Let's go Canes!