Rod Brind'Amour

The Philadelphia Flyers were already considered amongst the Stanley Cup favorites before adding winger Kris Versteeg on a happy Valentine's Day for Flyers fans.

Versteeg was a member of the Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks, who beat Philadelphia in the finals last season, so the Flyers know firsthand what he can do.

Versteeg will play a supporting role for the Flyers, much like he did for the Blackhawks, probably on a line that will be counted on both offensively and defensively.

Face-offs are killing the Carolina Hurricanes.  And I mean killing.

With a league worst face-off win percentage of 40.3 percent and a penalty kill tied for third to last in the NHL at 76.8 percent something must change in order for the Hurricanes to win draws...and games. 

As part of a continuing series, writer Benjamin Benya will be previewing all 30 NHL teams over the next two weeks in preparation for the 2010-2011 regular season.

As we continue towards the playoff picture, let's check in with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Key Additions: D Anton Babchuk, D Joe Corvo, C Patrick O’Sullivan, D Bobby Sanguinetti, RW Jared Staal.

Former Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour has been named the Hurricanes' Director of Forwards Development.

Realizing that he would have a greatly diminished role if he continued playing for the Carolina Hurricanes next season, Rod Brind'Amour decided to retire.  I am sure he could have asked GM Jim Rutherford for release from his contract and moved on to another team seeking veteran leadership, but Brind'Amour decided to retire as a Hurricane.

Brind'Amour was always a team first guy and that dedication will be rewarded on February 18 when the Hurricanes raise his No. 17 to the rafters.  

With just three games left in the NHL 2009-2010 regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes are going to miss the playoffs for the third time in four years since their Stanley Cup victory in 2006.

Following last year's run to the Eastern Conference Finals, the 'Canes started off this year on a low note, tying a franchise record with 14 consecutive losses in October and November, and were unable to fully recover despite going 24-13-3 after New Year's Day.

The Carolina Hurricanes are making the short plane ride back to Boston for game 7 of  the series. One can only wonder what is going through the minds of the Hurricane players and coaches alike.

Having a commanding 3-1 series lead in this best of seven all but should have guaranteed the Hurricanes of advancing to the Eastern Conference championships for the second time in 4 seasons.

When the playoffs began this season many fans as well as analysts gave the Carolina Hurricanes and their super star Eric Staal almost no chance of succeeding. But what most had forgotten was just how great of an impact Staal can be in any given game.

The 2005-2006 season saw the Carolina Hurricanes hoist Lord Stanley's Cup for the first time in the franchise's history.

The 2009 NHL Playoffs are quickly approaching. The seedings have started being solidified, and certain matchups are looking more and more likely.

As the race for the final few slots draws to a close, the first look at the two-and-a-half-month marathon kicks off.

Top Five Breakout Teams

Typically, the teams which do well in the postseason are the teams who put it together at the end of the regular season. Winning the Stanley Cup isn't always about being the best team, more so being the best team at the right time.