The defense: Could Canes’ corps be among NHL’s best?

It could be a season unlike any other for Jaccob Slavin and the Carolina Hurricanes defensemen.

Slavin could become a father for the first time. How exciting is that?

Dougie Hamilton and Calvin de Haan are playing for a new team while Justin Faulk, the subject of much offseason trade speculation, is back for his eighth season with the Canes.

Brett Pesce and Trevor van Riemsdyk are steady, dependable types and Haydn Fleury, after a solid rookie season, is looking to build on it.

The group of seven could be among the best in the Eastern Conference. Perhaps the NHL.

“They have an incredible defensive corps,” NBC Sports analyst Eddie Olczyk said. “Their defensive corps is, no question in my mind, a top 10 and could work themselves into a top five defensive corps.

“When you have that going for you ... if they can get consistent goaltending and find a way to put the puck in the back of the net a little bit more, they could be one of those teams people are not talking about that can take their next step.”

How it will work among the seven, how the minutes will be split, remains to be seen. Even Wednesday, a day before the season opener against the New York Islanders, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour was saying the pairings might not be known until just before game time.

“We’re still talking about it,” Brind’Amour said. “It doesn’t matter. We feel real confident on whoever we’re chucking out there. I think we’ll change periodically. Again, these are not problems for me. I’m not worried at all.”

At Thursday’s morning skate, Slavin was used with Hamilton while de Haan was paired with Faulk. Brind’Amour and new assistant coach Dean Chynoweth, who works with the D-men, had van Riemsdyk and Pesce together..

With four right-handed shooting defensemen, there will be games when someone has to play their off side. Van Riemsdyk did that in preseason, with no complaints.

“The group is real competitive,” Slavin said. “Top to bottom we’ve got a solid group. We’ve got guys who can play in any situation. That’s not a bad problem to have at all.”

Pesce said the system hasn’t changed a lot from the previous four years under former head coach Bill Peters and assistant Steve Smith. No overhaul.

“I think the biggest thing Roddy’s stressing this year is aggressiveness,” Pesce said. “Our gaps need to be good, and honestly any good team has the best gaps. You give them no space. That’s what we’re trying to emphasize this year and I think it’s awesome, especially for the D.

“I think Roddy’s big on just go play hockey. It’s going to be good.”

The Canes don’t have any big bruisers on the back end. There’s no one like Tim Gleason, now the Canes’ director of defenseman development, although Fleury was physical when need be as a rookie.

It’s a defensive group, with an average age of 25, that wants to use its depth, collective speed and puck-handling ability to make a difference. As Pesce said, “It’s like we have seven top-four D-men.”

Hamilton, at 6-6, is a smooth skater who scored 17 goals last season for the Calgary Flames. De Haan may not provide the scoring but has a lot of on-ice savvy.

Fleury, 22, played 67 games for the Canes last season and was a healthy extra in 15. He dropped 15 pounds over the summer -- he’s now 6-2 and 208 pounds -- and the former first-round draft pick feels quicker on the ice. The same is true for Faulk.

“Depth wise, it’s probably one of the best defense corps in the league,” Fleury said. “Quality over quantity has been stressed a lot. Over a long years there are lots of ups and downs and a lot can change with regard to injuries, and having seven guys who can rotate in and out and play against anyone is really going to help our team.

“We’ve been joking around that we drive our team. But when you look at it, I think a lot of good teams start on the back end and I think we’re going to be one of those teams.”

Off the ice, Slavin and his wife, Kylie, are on the waiting list to adopt a child, which will be their first. That will be a big change for the Slavins.

“It’s a big responsibility but something my wife and I are excited about, something God has put on our heart, to be able to go through the adoption process,” Slavin said. “We’re trying to be patient with that and trust in the Lord’s timing.”

Could be some year.

The defensemen

No. Name Height Weight Age

44 Calvin de Haan 6-1 195 27

Signed as a free agent, he’s coming back from shoulder surgery.

27 Justin Faulk 6-1 217 26

Former All-Star had 8 goals last season but could double that total.

4 Haydn Fleury 6-3 208 22

Played 67 games as rookie, still looking to score his first NHL goal.

19 Dougie Hamilton 6-6 230 25

Has been traded twice but says he feels comfortable with Canes.

22 Brett Pesce 6-3 206 23

Rehabbed shoulder injury, then was slowed this summer with respiratory problem.

74 Jaccob Slavin 6-3 207 24

Has played 221 consecutive games, third longest streak in franchise history

57 Trevor van Riemsdyk 6-2 192 27

Led Canes in plus/minus (+9), was second among D-men in blocked shots (113)

Plus: Depth, speed and several D options.

Minus: Not a lot of size on the back end.