Offseason - Forwards

On to the forwards. The Hurricanes are very deep at center. Six of the players on the playoff roster are natural centers, even if they didn't always play there. Granted, some won't be back, but it is a position of strength. The weak point has always been left wing, but that is starting to change now. The accomplishments of the young RFAs are going to cost this team a lot - Staal (22), Cole (27), and Williams (24) are RFAs and absolutely essential to this team's present and future.

Centers

• Matt Cullen - Made $668,000 (!) last season and is a UFA. Not bad for a guy who put up 25 goals in the regular season. He will be a wanted commodity on the market on one hand, but he really likes it here on the other. I think it is possible to get him back with a home team discount and I would love to see him wearing the sightless eye next season. Projection: Unsure, might be a casualty of the big three forwards
  
• Eric Staal - Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. That's the sound of the armored car backing up to Eric's place and dumping a crap load of money down. He made $942,000 last season and he's an RFA. The team has a little leverage, but we could be looking at somewhere between 5 and 63.5 million dollars a year here. Projection: $$$$
  
• Kevyn Adams - Made $725,000 last season and will make the same this upcoming on in the last year of his contract. Kevyn is loved by this community - he always has time for fans, even during the lockout. Projection: Here for a long time
  
• Rod Brind'Amour - Made $5,320,000 this season, scheduled to make $2,850,000 next season and there is a team/player option the year after that. Projection: He's the Captain
  
• Doug Weight - Made $5,700,000 last season (partial from St. Louis) and all accounts have him heading back there to finish his career. Projection: Gone
  
• Josef Vasicek - Made $1,000,000 last season and is scheduled to make $1,300,000 next season before becoming an RFA. There has been some talk about his lack of production will cause him to be traded. Upper management has expressed faith in him though, especially since knee injuries take a while. We'll see. Projection: Draft Day trade?
  
• Vince Bellisimo - A prospect on a two-way contract, he's scheduled to make $450,000 next year (same as this year) should he make the club. With the strength at center, that's not a given. Projection: In the organization, but probably in the minors

Wings

• Justin Williams - He's a RFA and only 24 years old, making $1,225,000 last season. He's a solid two-way player, puts up points, and is part of the young core of the team. He'll get a nice raise (double at least) and probably a three to four year contract. Projection: Stays
  
• Ray Whitney - He has one more year on his contract at $1,500,000 before he becomes a UFA. Projection: Stays
  
• Andrew Ladd - One more year on his entry level contract ($689,000) before he becomes an RFA. Stays
  
• Mark Recchi - A team option at $2,280,000 that will most likely not be picked up, especially for a 38 year old forward whose best days are behind him. Projection: Gone
  
• Erik Cole - Another part of the young core of the team, he's 27 and a favorite of everyone from upper managerment through the fan base. He is an RFA this season after making $1,140,000 last season. That will be doubled (tripled?) at least and hopefully will result in a long multi-year deal to stave off impending unrestricted free agency. Projection: Stays
  
• Craig Adams - One of a group of players who play better with the Hurricanes than with other teams (see: Hill, Sean). He likes it here and has undeniable chemistry with Kevyn Adams. He made $465,000 last season and is a UFA. I expect he'll be resigned with a slight raise. Projection: Stays
  
• Chad LaRose - Rosie was undrafted and is an RFA after making $450,000. We'll sign him with a raise, maybe $500,000 or a little higher. Projection: Stays
  
• Cory Stillman - He has a year left on his contract, making $1,750,000 and worth every penny. Projection: Stays

It is important to retain the young forwards on the squad because the cupboard is barren. We need to get some young forwards in the system, maybe trading some of our various goalie prospects for some good young talented blue chippers.