Hurricanes go back to the basics

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Only move for Canes is to wait

The other worst team in the NHL visits the RBC Center tonight, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs each stuck on 11 points. Technically, the Hurricanes are 30th, having played one more game than the Leafs, but the real difference between the teams is expectations.

The Maple Leafs expected to be in this position - perhaps not this position exactly, but this was a rebuilding year in Toronto from the beginning.

The Hurricanes did not, needless to say at this point. The lofty goals of the offseason have been replaced by a more immediate task: Get to .500 by Christmas. That will require a mere 13 wins in 17 games by a team that hasn't won in regulation in more than a month.

Canes' moves show future team

The Hurricanes' recent moves — the re-signing of Tuomo Ruutu, the trade that dispatched Patrick Eaves and brought Aaron Ward back to Raleigh and the buyout of Frantisek Kaberle — put a fine polish on what the Hurricanes will look like next season.

There may be some tinkering here and there before the season starts, but as things stand now, the Hurricanes could go into training camp on target and under budget.

Those moves also offered a look at what the Hurricanes' roster will resemble in 2010-11, when a few big contracts expire, the cap is likely to decrease and a few prospects may be ready to jump to the NHL.

Tough calls face Canes

Bill Cowher chose to ally himself with the Carolina Hurricanes over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that's one victory the Hurricanes can claim thisseries.

Cowher -- whose roots in Pennsylvania and the Triangle left him to choose between divided loyalties -- was the official "Siren Sounder" before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday, and he will be the last to crank the siren for some months now.

Sidney Crosby and EvgeniMalkin will take their act to the Stanley Cup finals after sweeping the Hurricanes out of the playoffs 4-1 Tuesday, although the rest of the Penguins, it should be said, weren't too bad either.

Fans buzzing at Canes' Cup chase

With a game program and a permanent marker, Patrick Noonan was one of about a dozen fans collecting autographs Wednesday outside the RecZone, the Carolina Hurricanes' practice rink in Raleigh. And he could sense something.

"It's starting to get that 'Cup Crazy' feel," Noonan said.

Hurricanes flags are returning to car windows, and fans to the seats at the RBC Center. With the second-best record in the National Hockey League, the Canes are creating a genuine buzz for the first time since their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002.

Canes already knew Kobasew

As the 2001 NHL draft approached, the Carolina Hurricanes had set their sights on a Boston College forward they were pretty sure would be available with the 15th pick.

The players and picks ticked by, until only one team remained ahead of the Hurricanes. The Canes had the nameplate ready and had done everything but put Chuck Kobasew's name into the computer -- until the Calgary Flames, who had traded down from 11th, took Kobasew with the 14th pick.

After Kobasew exited the stage, the cameras cut to Carolina's table, which appeared to be somewhat in disarray. The Canes ended up taking a highly touted Russian defenseman, Igor Knyazev, who emerged from the stands wearing a tuxedo and bow tie.