Hurricanes Season Preview: Francis must make his mark

"I'd like to say that I think we're going in the right direction."

Those are uncertain words from the only real sure thing when it comes to the Carolina Hurricanes nowadays. And boy, All-Star defenseman Justin Faulk's reservation doth shine through.

As it should.

Because after a 71-point season and last-place showing in the Metropolitan Division, the Hurricanes, returning largely unchanged, are only up against more uncertainty - from the rookies, to the remnants of their 2006 Stanley Cup championship, and everything in between.

Let's start at the top. Of the payroll, that is. The one with the $2.33-million gash on an annual basis thanks to this summer's buyout of Alex Semin.

Eric Staal, the face of the franchise and five(plus)-year captain (whose brother, Jordan, is entering the third season of a 10-year extension signed with the intention to play with his elder kin), is a free agent at season's end.

Though he's not the player he once was, Eric's departure would be a difficult pill to swallow for the Staal brothers and Hurricanes fans alike. But with barely a murmur on the extension front, and the possibility of a tidy package of prospects and picks potentially coming back to aid the team's slow-moving rebuild, Staal's days, for the Hurricanes, might be better off numbered.

Likewise, Cam Ward, also ingrained in the fabric of this club, is entering the final season of his hefty contract. And he's on the verge of losing his starting role to fellow pending unrestricted free agent and key summer addition Eddie Lack, whose situation itself poses another slate of questions.

And then there's Kris Versteeg, James Wisniewski, and Jeff Skinner, who was reduced to 31 points last year after netting a career-high 33 goals in the season prior. But let's focus on the rookie.

Noah Hanifin, taken fifth overall in June, appears all but set to make the leap to the NHL and begin scaling the learning curve on the top pairing with Faulk. But 18-year-old defensemen so infrequently succeed in the NHL, so is it worth the risk? And what does that say about fellow lottery selection (and teenager) Haydn Fleury, who now into his second NHL training camp hasn't necessarily proven he can make the jump?

Enough questions - onto the mysteries.

How does a top-10 team in terms of shot-based possession, which finished with the fourth-best penalty kill and a 13th-ranked power play, finish with the fifth-worst scoring ratio in the NHL?

Strong underlying numbers aren't everything, obviously, but it might represent enough evidence to suggest that Bill Peters, who won only 30 games in his first season at the wheel of an NHL bench, is indeed the right man to lead the Hurricanes.

But don't be mistaken. The 2015-16 season, and his second, too, absolutely belongs to GM Ron Francis, who must make his mark by making the best of these moving parts.

Projected Depth Chart

X-Factor

On a team littered with talent struggling to maintain its form, let's focus on Elias Lindholm, still working toward achieving his potential.

Lindholm emerged as a legitimate offensive force last season - producing at nearly a half-point-per-game pace - and was rewarded with a $5.4-million bridge contract for his efforts.

This season, he's expected to play with the best finishers and facilitators Carolina can offer from puck drop on opening night, which should present a greater opportunity for him to showcase his entire set of rare offensive tools.

He finished second to (Eric) Staal in scoring last season with 39 points, so it's obviously not a stretch to say he can lead the team. But reaching the 60-point plateau could be a real possibility if he, and his mates, maintain a level of consistency.

Player to Watch

For the price of a third-round pick, Lack comes to Carolina on something of an extended tryout.

The free-spirited netminder won't just be competing for time in the Carolina crease, but also for a contract next season and beyond.

It could turn out to be a very creative, very shrewd move from Francis, who will see as much (or as little) of Lack as he wants before making a decision long-term.

And if Lack shows he can carry the load, perhaps replicating the .917 career save percentage he achieved in Vancouver, Carolina should be able to take advantage of the current market and cut down the cost of goaltenders over the next few seasons while injecting personality into the roster.