HOCKEY'S HERE: CAROLINA HURRICANES

The first hint of fall is in the air. It's getting dark earlier, and soon it will be too cold to spend Saturday nights sharing a 2-4 of Blue and listening to Guns N' Roses at the gravel pit. It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it’s hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field offers looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The Carolina Hurricanes.

Last season: 112 points, 1st in Southeast Division; won Stanley Cup over Edmonton in seven games
Coach: Peter Laviolette
Young gun not named Staal: Andrew Ladd
Store this name away: Justin Peters (destined to become Cam Ward's backup)
Hey, get a load of the new guys: John Grahame, Tim Gleason
Blogs (including but not limited to): CasonBlog, Canes Country, Confessions of a Caniac, Stormbringer's Blog of Madness
Pop culture moment: Well, Eric Staal is the NHL 07 cover boy.

Peter Laviolette's 'Canes won't repeat, but should be good enough to finish first, be a high playoff seed and win a playoff round or two, despite what's being said about their depleted defence corps and the poorly thought out Jack Johnson trade. (James Mirtle had a good post on this.)

Their top-six forwards are as good as anyone else's in the East, with the possible exception of the Ottawa Senators, and as CasonBlog notes, Eric Belanger, the second player added in the Johnson swap, should be a No. 3 centre to replaced the departed Matt Cullen.

Bottom line, if Cam Ward can keep at an even keel and John Grahame can play well for 30-35 games as the backup, Carolina will be a 100-point team again.

Also in Southeast Division: Atlanta Thrashers, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca