Canes have decisions on the horizon

RALEIGH -- Free agency is less than a month away. The NHL draft, less than that. For the Carolina Hurricanes, it's time to make some decisions.

The Hurricanes' front-office brain trust will gather in Raleigh this week for its annual offseason planning meeting, with the impending changes to Carolina's defense at the top of the list.

While it appears increasingly unlikely that the Canes will re-sign Bret Hedican even as Hedican is considering playing another season in the NHL, they're still waiting for a decision from Glen Wesley whether he plans to return. Wesley said last week he had "no update" on his status.

Nevertheless, after the successful trade for Joe Corvo last February, Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford would like to add another offensive-minded defenseman, whether through the free-agent market or by trading from Carolina's surplus of forwards.

Whom to pursue and what to offer will be on the agenda as assistant general manager Ron Francis, pro scouting director Marshall Johnston and Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette, among others, meet this week. (Rutherford will join them after attending an NHL general managers' meeting in Detroit today.)

Among the other issues up for debate:

* What to do with the 14th pick in the first round of the June 20-21 draft: keep it, trade up or trade down.

This is new scouting director Tony MacDonald's first draft in charge, but he spent many years as Sheldon Ferguson's top assistant before Ferguson left last summer.

MacDonald and Carolina's other amateur scouts will spend this week ranking players and developing a shortlist for the 14th pick after spending the weekend at the NHL's draft combine in Toronto.

* Whether Michael Leighton is the right guy to back up Cam Ward next season. The Canes are leaning that direction after Leighton's stellar year with Albany, but the matter will be settled this week.

* What to do about any remaining unrestricted free agents -- Leighton, Hedican, Wesley, Keith Aucoin, Ryan Bayda, Trevor Letowski and Wade Brookbank most prominently -- as well as unsigned restricted free agents like Tim Gleason, Tuomo Ruutu, Chad LaRose and Dennis Seidenberg.

On a similar note, the Canes were expected to try to move the final year of Jeff Hamilton's contract this summer, but after playing well in a late-season call-up he may be back in the picture this fall.

* Assessing and prioritizing any minor-league free agents who could add depth in Albany. The Canes already have signed drafted prospects Stefan Chaput, Nick Dodge, Harrison Reed and Brett Bellemore to play in Albany next fall and put River Rats defenseman Bryan Rodney on an NHL contract.