For the first time in a decade, the Carolina Hurricanes head into the offseason on an upswing. While the season didn’t end well, the franchise’s first playoff berth in ten years culminated in a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. It marked the fourth time since 2002 the Hurricanes advanced to the conference finals, a feat surpassed by only a handful of teams in the league.
General Manager Don Waddell, a finalist for GM of the Year, faces several important questions as he prepares next year’s roster. The first question, however, may be out of his hands.