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Carolina Hurricanes
Overall: 61
Title track: 37
Ownership: 99
Coaching: T47
Players: 85
Fan relations: 64
Affordability: 28
Stadium experience: 70
Bang for the buck: 42
Change from last year: +17
After seven straight years of slipping in the rankings, Carolina managed an upward swing. The Hurricanes are still in the bottom third of the NHL, but they have a young core of players and a patient coach in Bill Peters, who helped the team to a 15-point improvement over his first season at the helm.
What's good
Few teams can offer the chance to watch as many young talents for as low a price as the Hurricanes. Nearly half of the roster is under 24, and the franchise moved up 27 spots in affordability, all the way to 28th overall. Throw in some well-priced concessions and pretty cheap parking, and that's an equation for success in these rankings. Fans are pretty optimistic about this group, too; Carolina is No. 37 in title track, and the numbers indicate most fans see a title (eventually) coming out of this rebuild.
What's bad
The good: owner Peter Karmanos Jr. offering Peters a three-year extension after his year-over-year improvement of the club. The bad: A lot else, including a 99th-place ranking in our standings. Karmanos is being sued by his sons after allegedly borrowing $343 million in trust fund money and using it to help pay for the Hurricanes from 2000 to 2013. The lawsuit doesn't bode well for a franchise that relies on that family fortune, and it also gave rise to fear of the franchise leaving Raleigh, which is a very real concern if Karmanos loses controlling interest of the team.
What's new
The team itself is getting along, at least. Peters (up 23 spots this year, to 47th) is emerging as a savvy leader for a group that continues to improve. Adding veteran talents like Bryan Bickell, Lee Stempniak and Viktor Stalberg will help, and 22-year-old Teuvo Teravainen is a solid addition as well (players, still at 85th, are at least up 18 spots, too). Keep in mind that this group nearly mounted a tremendous comeback last season, too. Carolina earned points in 13 of its 18 games following the March 1 trade deadline despite dealing team captain Eric Staal, who had been with the team for 12 seasons up to that point.
Next: Minnesota Wild | Full rankings