(If you haven't paid any attention to the Hurricanes since the last game of last season:)

Ray Whitney, the Canes' leading scorer in 2006-07, and Scott Walker re-signed with the Canes instead of becoming free agents.

Matt Cullen is back. After Cullen left as a free agent a summer ago, the Canes traded Andrew Hutchinson, a prospect and a draft pick to get him back.

All 30 NHL teams are wearing new high-tech uniforms designed by Reebok. The only change on Carolina's sweater? Contrasting piping around the shoulders.

The Canes signed forward Jeff Hamilton as a free agent to help out on the power play and in shootouts.

Cam Ward lost 20 pounds working out with Canes trainer Pete Friesen.

Bret Hedican decided against retirement and is making a comeback from hip and back injuries.

Former Hurricanes goalie Tom Barrasso was hired to work with the goalies in Carolina's system.fighting words

A quick look at Carolina's top rivalries

ATLANTA

The bad blood: The expansion Thrashers took 17 games and 3 1/2 seasons to beat the Hurricanes in regulation. Their penchant for late-game thuggery in blowouts irked the Canes to the degree that the players requested the team no longer schedule the Thrashers for exhibition games.

The nemesis: Holik used to torment the Canes and aggravate captain Rod Brind'Amour when he was with the Devils. He has been quieter since he moved to the Southeast Division.

DETROIT

The bad blood: Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, both Detroit natives and residents, regularly butt heads in the Motor City. The 2002 finals took things to a new level.

The nemesis: Ilitch. The rivalry was born in Michigan youth hockey and elevated to the NHL.

FLORIDA

The bad blood: The Canes almost single-handedly kept the Panthers out of the playoffs last season, going 7-1-0 with four overtime wins. The Canes won three games in Florida on overtime power-play goals and came back twice from three-goal deficits to win in Raleigh. Panthers broadcaster Denis Potvin has accused the Canes (and Erik Cole in particular) of diving.

The nemesis: Panthers captain Olli Jokinen takes out his frustration on the ice. He had 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) against Carolina last season and has 25 points in his past 16 games against the Canes.

NEW JERSEY

The bad blood: It started when Scott Stevens knocked Shane Willis and Ron Francis out of the 2001 playoffs with concussion-causing hits. The Canes lost that series but have beaten the Devils twice since.

The nemesis: Stevens and Bobby Holik tormented the Canes, but the Canes have tormented goalie Martin Brodeur, right. He has been pulled from three Carolina games the past two seasons, including Game 1 of the 2006 Eastern Conference semifinals. "To see Marty get pulled, it just doesn't happen so often," former Devils center Scott Gomez said. "It just happens against Carolina. I think it's just kind of weird; maybe the moon's lined up differently."