NHL Season Preview 2014-2015: Carolina Hurricanes

Player Most Likely To Improve

Feb 27, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm (16) watches his team take on the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Hurricanes 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jason: Eric Staal should bounce back. With his brother out with a broken leg, Eric will have to shoulder a bigger load for the Hurricanes. Part of his dip in production was that he only scored one goal on the power play last season.

In 2011-2012, Staal had seven goals when on the man-advantage. Expect him to return to the aforementioned 70 point mark: if the Hurricanes have any hope of making the playoffs, they will need a Hart Trophy caliber season from Eric Staal to do so.

Josh: With Jordan Staal out for at least the next few months with a broken leg, the spotlight now turns to Elias Lindholm.

The former fifth overall pick (2013) will be looked at to provide some secondary scoring behind the “healthy” trio of E. Staal, Semin and Skinner. The 19-year-old posted decent numbers (58 GP, 9 G and 12 A) in his rookie season last year, but should have the opportunity to produce at a higher level now that his ice-time is sure to tick upward.

Lindholm became the youngest (18 years and 311 days) Swedish-born NHL player to score a goal, beating out Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog by 13 days. He’s also a two-time silver medalist with Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships.

The talent, and opportunity, is there for Lindholm to make a giant leap in his second NHL season.