Canes will open against Predators, Red Wings

The Carolina Hurricanes’ first two opponents for the 2015-2016 season have been set: on the road Oct. 8 against the Nashville Predators, then the home opener two days later at PNC Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.

As for who will be in the Canes’ lineup in those first two games, some of that could be decided in the next week.

The NHL teams were allowed to announce their home openers Wednesday. The rest of the regular-season schedule will be released Thursday by the league as many NHL owners, general managers and other team officials exit Las Vegas and head to Florida for the NHL Entry Draft.

Before the yearly NHL awards were handed out Wednesday night at the MGM Grand, the league’s board of governors approved such changes as three-on-three overtime periods in regular-season games. Bigger news came Wednesday afternoon when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the league was formally opening up the expansion process.

Interested cities and potential ownership groups can begin submitting bids July 6, with an Aug. 10 deadline. The bids then will be reviewed by the league’s Executive Committee.

“The fact that we are beginning this process does not necessarily mean that any expansion teams will be granted as a result of this process,” Bettman said in a statement.

The price of an expansion team is expected to be $500 million, although Bettman did not specify the price. Teams, if added, would begin play in the 2017-2018 season.

The NHL Draft will be held Friday and Saturday at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. Teams will scramble to make wise draft picks while also talking about potential trades and deals. That’s why so many GMs are seen pacing the draft floor, making the rounds.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis could be one of the pacers and talkers. It’s believed he has been fielding offers – for the Canes’ fifth pick of the draft, for players.

“To get to where we want to get to, we need to make sure we take the right steps,” Francis said. “We can’t take any steps that, at the end of the day, set us back.”

After the Canes again failed to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs, after seeing his team finish 30-41-11 and 14th in the Eastern Conference, Francis has said he’s more willing to consider significant personnel changes. Predictably, trade rumors abound.

One making its way through NHL circles this week was the Canes potentially working a deal that would bring Pittsburgh Penguins center Brandon Sutter back to Carolina. Also mentioned was the Canes sending forward Alex Semin to the Pens as part of a trade while retaining part of his salary.

Pens general manager Jim Rutherford, who as Carolina’s GM signed Semin to a five-year, $35 million extension in 2013, didn’t want to comment on that speculation or any potential trades.

“There are always some (trade rumors) this time of the year and I would expect there will be a fair amount of movement this week and next week,” Rutherford said this week. “With the changes in the (salary) cap system, there are even more reasons to move players.”

It was announced Tuesday the NHL salary cap ceiling would be set at $71.4 million for the 2015-2016 season and some teams will feel the squeeze and be forced to jettison some productive players. NHL free agency begins July 1 but some teams will not wait until Wednesday to make moves.

The Canes’ Oct. 10 home opener against the Red Wings will be their second in three years against Detroit -- Carolina lost 3-2 to the Wings in the 2013-14 opener. A year ago, the Canes were beaten 5-3 by the New York Islanders, Bill Peters’ first game as Carolina’s head coach.

The Canes have not won a home opener at PNC Arena since October 2008, when they topped the Florida Panthers 6-4.

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Canes will open against Predators, Red Wings."