MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Eric Staal re-emerged as one of the top players in the league. The center produced at a brisk pace during the last month or so of the season, erasing the memory of his subpar 2006-07 season. Staal's role increased when captain Rod Brind'Amour went out for the season with a knee injury, and he was the only player to appear in all 82 games.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
Frantisek Kaberle fell out of favor at times, particularly when the Hurricanes dressed seven defensemen and he was bypassed for shifts. Once, his role was to direct the power play. But the production was dismal. Kaberle hasn't looked the same since shoulder surgery in the summer of 2006.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
The Hurricanes were quick to tend to their top offseason priority, signing right wing Sergei Samsonov to a three-year contract. He was an unrestricted free agent. After he joined the team off waivers from Chicago, he was the second-leading scorer (32 points in 38 games) with the Hurricanes behind Eric Staal. His plus/minus rating of plus-7 was bonus, too. Samsonov's new contract calls for $2.3 million to $2.8 million annually during the deal. At 29 years old, the Hurricanes are counting on Samsonov continuing a career resurgence that began with the team during the past few months.

PLAYER NOTES

--C Brandon Sutter should be preparing to play with Carolina next season. The 2007 first-round draftee has been mentioned regularly when next season's plans are discussed. He turned 19 years old in February, but there might be no sense in holding him back.

--G Cam Ward has been doing some good work for Team Canada in the World Championships. This is an encouraging sign for the Hurricanes because there have been critics about his consistency. With Ward receiving some extra off-season work, this might bode well leading into next season.

--G Michael Leighton has certainly moved himself into position to be the No. 2 goalie with the Hurricanes next season. He was named an AHL All-Star, and then received considerable attention this spring with his 98-save outing in a playoff game for the Albany River Rats. Leighton had a solid training camp last year, and he has done nothing to diminish his potential role with the team.

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