NHL Hockey Betting - Carolina Hurricanes

NHL Betting 2007-08 – Carolina Hurricanes
Manager: Peter Laviolette
Arena: RBC Center
Last Season: 35-41-8, 88 pts (3rd Southeast, 11th Eastern Conference
2008 Prediction: 8th Eastern Conference

Preseason Odds to win Stanley Cup: +3500

In 2006 the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. In 2007, they finished 11th in the Eastern Conference. What does 2008 have in store for this team? Health was the main problem for the Canes last year with Erik Cole, Cory Stillman and goalie Cam Ward all hitting the shelf for big stretches. Now the team returns healthy and ready to resurge in the drifting Southeast Division and the NHL betting world.

There is no point in visiting last season’s team stats because this team lost so many stars at key positions throughout the year. Erik Cole is never going to be the force of nature he was in 2005-06, but he is as close to 100% as he is every going to be and will be a great second-line player. Meanwhile, the offense will key off of Eric Staal’s production who needs to mature at an alarming rate. At 22, Staal has yet to realize his unreal potential.

The defense needs Frank Kaberle, who had offseason knee surgery, to get healthy fast. Outside of Kaberle, a terrific scorer and shutdown defender, the Canes don’t have much as far as stars go. But they have depth, and that might be all they need if Cam Ward can return to his form from two years ago. Ward battled injuries and the Stanley Cup hangover last season and is ready for a return to his Conn Smythe performance of 2006.

Next to Philadelphia, no team is staging a greater comeback then the Hurricanes. In the Southeast, they could stage a surprising uprising considering how thin Tampa is and that Atlanta has no leadership. The pieces have to come together for the Canes, but they are a reasonably strong bet to make the playoffs in 2008.

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Official Website: www.carolinahurricanes.com