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5 NHL teams set to take a serious step back this season

By Kyle McKenna

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Nate Schmidt #88 celebrates his goal with teammates Shea Theodore #27, Jonathan Marchessault #81, William Karlsson #71 and Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights against the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Nate Schmidt #88 celebrates his goal with teammates Shea Theodore #27, Jonathan Marchessault #81, William Karlsson #71 and Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights against the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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3. Carolina Hurricanes

Sure, the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018 missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, but that doesn’t mean that the ‘Canes are set to take a step forward in 2019.

During this past offseason, Carolina departed ways with top skaters such as Jeff Skinner, Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. That trio alone combined for 125 points out of the team’s total 614. While Carolina’s fan base was hoping the Hurricanes would finally improve, the team is actually set to regress and should be up for the No. 1 overall pick (Draft Lottery) after 2019.

Yes, Carolina added a solid defenseman in Calvin de Haan, but that won’t be enough to stabilize the team’s average blue line, yet. There are bigger question marks between the pipes with the likes of Scott Darling and Petr Mrzaek.

Neither goaltender has proven to be a legitimate starting netminder and both are some of the streakier masked men in the league.

Combine those factors with an average offense at best with little support for the likes of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Aging veterans such as Jordan Staal and Justin Williams will be relied upon too often and Carolina’s lack of depth will be exposed throughout the duration of 2019.

The Hurricanes finished last season with 83 points in the standings (36-35-11) and the chances are that they’ll finish with around 70 in 2019.

Newly appointed Head coach Rod Brind’Amour will have quite the challenge ahead of himself with his ‘Canes, but the former Stanley Cup winner with Carolina should be able to help develop a number of the team’s skaters as the season progresses.

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