No matter how the Carolina Hurricanes' 2000-01 season is analyzed, it should be considered a success solely because the franchise qualified for the playoffs for the second time since leaving Hartford in 1997. More importantly, it was the first time that Raleigh experienced the NHL postseason -- the team was in Greensboro in 1999, the last time they made the playoffs. The home crowd witnessed three games against the Devils -- including a thrilling 3-2 OT win in Game 4 -- which went a long way toward selling the NHL in North Carolina.

2000-01 by the numbers

Record: 38-32-9-3, 88 points (T17th overall, T8th East, 2nd Southeast) Man-games lost to injury: 110 (T27) Goals for/Avg.: 212/2.59 (19th) Goals against/Avg.: 225/2.74 (16th) Differential: -13 (17th overall) 20-goal scorers: Jeff O'Neill (41), Martin Gelinas (23), Sami Kapanen (20), Rod Brind'Amour (20), Shane Willis (20) 50-point scorers: O'Neill (67), Francis (65), Kapanen (57), Brind'Amour (56), Willis (52)

Looking at next season
To improve upon their 38-win season, coach Paul Maurice's squad needs to score more goals. The Hurricanes were the worst offensive team (212 goals) of all 16 playoff qualifiers. After Jeff O'Neill's 41 goals last season, Martin Gelinas' 23 was the second best. The Canes haven't lost or added any core players on their top forward lines other than mucker Rob DiMaio, so the combinations should be almost identical next season. That means young players like Josef Vasicek (20-years old) and Shane Willis (24) must make major progress next season. Willis had a promising rookie campaign, but scored just two goals in his final 16 games -- and none in two playoff games. Vasicek, a 6-foot-4 center, has never been a prolific scorer at any level, but he should be able to improve upon his eight goals in 76 games during his rookie season.

Although it doesn't appear likely that Carolina will markedly improve up front, defense is a completely different story. There's no doubt Sandis Ozolinsh can play better than his 32-assist, minus-25 performance from a year ago. Outside of the 1998-99 season with Colorado, when he was limited to 32 points in 39 games, last season was his worst since 1994-95 when he had only 16 assists in 48 games and was a minus-6. Defense isn't Ozolinsh's strength, so when he is subpar offensively, he really becomes a liability. Another defenseman with huge offensive upside is David Tanabe, who turns 21 on July 19 and just completed his first full season in the NHL. Last season, the 6-foot-1 blueliner scored seven goals and added 22 assists, 11 of which were on the power play. With added maturity and muscle, Tanabe could make Carolina's power-play blueline tandem one of the best in the league.

The one weakness on defense is depth. Dave Karpa signed with the Rangers, and Kevin Hatcher decided not to exercise his option, leaving the roster only six deep.

Goaltending is an issue mainly because of Arturs Irbe's workload. The diminutive Latvian started 76 games last season -- the most in the NHL. Tyler Moss couldn't even secure the No. 2 job, let alone enable Maurice to feel comfortable about giving Irbe rest. Jean-Marc Pelletier came to Carolina in the Keith Primeau trade but hasn't progressed as quickly as the organization had hoped.

General manager Jim Rutherford's search for offense on the open market will be difficult -- many unrestricted free agents have already signed and the money being tossed around is out of the Hurricanes' range. Rutherford may pursue a Steve Heinze-type player, instead of keeping winger Scott Pellerin (no goals, five assists in 19 regular-season games). Rutherford likely will bring at least one more goalie to camp and try to shore up the blue line with some low-cost, stay-at-home defensemen.

The Hurricanes will receive more competition within the division next season. The Capitals have been as quiet as Carolina in the offseason, but Florida, Tampa Bay and Atlanta have been busy and should be much improved. If Tanabe emerges as a top-level player and Irbe holds up, Carolina can maintain the status quo. However, the Hurricanes won't be more formidable than the one that made a feisty but early exit in the 2001 playoffs.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com.