GM Ron Francis believes Hurricanes can make playoffs
The Carolina Hurricanes have made the playoffs once in nine seasons since winning the franchise's lone Stanley Cup in 2006, and very few believe playoff hockey will return to Raleigh in 2016.
One person with optimism is general manager Ron Francis, who suggested to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer that his team may surprise this season.
"That's my goal every year - I want to make the playoffs," Francis said. "I think we've got a team that can do that. You need an invitation to the dance. Once you get there anything can happen."
The Hurricanes finished last in the Metropolitan Division last season. Even if young players such as Justin Faulk and Elias Lindholm continue to improve and stars like Jeff Skinner and the Staal brothers have bounce-back years, the team will need a lot of help to return to the playoffs.
"I'm not naive. I know how tough it is to get there," Francis continued. "Only one team wins the Cup and nearly half our league, 14 of 16 teams, don't make the playoffs. I know how tough it is but there's a lot of parity in the league and a lot of games decided by one goal. ...
"Hopefully the breaks go our way this year and we end up on the right end of those one-goal games."
The Hurricanes went 13-16-11 in one-goal games last season.
Carolina will open its new campaign in Tennessee, where the Hurricanes will face former coach Peter Laviolette and the Nashville Predators.