Kirk Muller has a puzzle to solve.
The signing of winger Alexander Semin and acquisition of center Jordan Staal have filled the Carolina Hurricanes' pool of forwards to the brim and created a complex conundrum on the 'Canes pre-training camp depth chart.
The additions of Semin and Staal have made Carolina arguably the Eastern Conference's most-improved team of the summer. Both top-six talents will arrive in Raleigh with 30-goal projections and lofty expectations.
However, they'll still have to compete with a number of other top-class scorers—veteran Hurricanes like Tuomo Ruutu, Jussi Jokinen, Chad LaRose and 2011-12 breakout Jiri Tlusty—to earn jobs alongside franchise cornerstones Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner on Carolina's first and second lines.
Entering September's training camp and preseason—provided that a new CBA is settled at some point before Sept. 15th—Muller will have to sort out a crowded offensive cast with far more talent than any in recent 'Canes history.
How his final solution to that enigma will look is still far from determined.
Here's how the puzzling layout stands, to th ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Jones
Carolina Hurricanes: What Will the ‘Canes Lines Look Like in 2012-2013?
August 18th, 2012 by Mark Jones Leave a reply »
Advertisement