Besides having sound goaltending, being strong down the middle of the ice is the most important quality an NHL team can have. You need centers who can produce offensively, drive possession and match up with the other team’s best players.
It’s nearly impossible to win in today’s NHL without a true number one center, something the Hurricanes know all too well (they know about goaltending too).
So, how does the team look at center coming into the season? That hinges on two questions: Is Sebastian Aho a center, and is Martin Necas ready to roll as a rookie?