NHL Power Rankings: Lightning strikes, Flames burn out

20. Carolina Hurricanes (+3)

The Carolina Hurricanes will need to address goaltending this offseason to make a push for the playoffs next year. They have a talented group of young forwards that are ready for the playoffs and one of the best young defensive cores in the league. The Carolina Hurricanes are close to being a very dangerous team, but goaltending has held them back. The Hurricanes will be shedding a $3.3 million-dollar cap hit when Cam Ward becomes a free agent this summer. They can then afford to go after free agent goalies like Petr Mrazek, Robin Lehner or Antti Raanta. Adding a goaltender that can split time with Scott Darling would be enough to make them legitimate playoff contenders.

Barring a miracle, the Carolina Hurricanes once again will fall just short of the playoffs. They currently sit nine points out with five games left. It was a decent season overall for the Hurricanes; they just didn’t have enough to take them to the next level. Sebastian Aho looks like a future star and their defense is solid. The Hurricanes just capped off a set of games in which they collected four wins only dropping two games. Their wins came at home against the Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators. They also picked up a road win against Ottawa and a road win against the New York Islanders. They will close out their schedule against the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Hurricanes will be general manager shopping this summer, which should be an interesting storyline to watch because it is new owner Tom Dundon’s first hire.