Granted, early exits by the Bruins and Flyers helped the Carolina Hurricanes take the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs by storm. But will the 'Canes stay the course and be a playoff threat next season?

ESPN.com asked for your thoughts about the Hurricanes. Here is an edited sampling of your responses:

I must say that I was more than impressed with the 'Canes' success in the playoffs this year. Even though they did not go all the way, I think they built up respect from other teams and fans around the league. They just never seem to quit. And that is what I like about this team. They knew they were the underdog going into the finals, but that did not bother them. I was born a Flyer fan and will die a Flyer fan, but the Hurricanes have a special place in my heart.

Kate Scanlan
Raleigh, N.C.

The Whalers -- excuse me -- the Hurricanes gave hope to New England fans who stuck by them, even after their move to NASCAR country. They continued the recent success of normally dormant New England-based teams that was started by the Patriots in January. Hopefully the Babe will turn his head this season and allow the Red Sox and Whalers to bypass the New England curse that has stretched from Bias to Buckner to Battaglia.

Marcella Makuck
West Hartford, Conn.

One word: fluke.

Peter Benedict
Manhattan Beach, Calif.

The 'Canes can make it back to the Stanley Cup finals, but it will be an arduous task. They won't sneak up on anyone next year, and they'll be tested from the beginning to prove they were (and are) worthy to hoist the Eastern Conference banner. They must do several things to repeat this year's performance:
1. Get or mold somebody who can stand in front of the net during power plays with impunity -- someone with a John LeClair-like mentality.
2. Trade Malik! Sign Ward and get Tanabe back on the ice. Anyone with Malik's size that doesn't hit needs to play for Anaheim.
3. Get another fast European right winger to play on the Vasicek/Svoboda line. Although Marty Gelinas played well, he held this talented duo back at times.
4. Start Kevin Weekes against the Rangers and don't look back. He's got many good years ahead of him and needs the ice time to gain the confidence needed to hoist the Cup. The Canes were an aberration in last year's playoffs by coming so close to winning the Cup with two goalies. Take the valuable lesson that the Flyers still have not learned.
5. Keep playing Coach Mo's system. Proof is in the pudding -- it works and the players believe in it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, just polish it up a little.

Richard Haas Clayton, N.C.

Yada, yada, yada. I heard this same story in 1996 with the Florida Panthers. "Florida is hockey country now! The perfect mix of veterans and youth, they'll be turning heads forever. The Florida football fans are hooked for good!" Maybe Carolina will be different, but they have a very long way to go to prove it.

Shane Hockin
Tallahassee, Fla.

Fresh off the most successful run of any pro franchise in this state's history, the Hurricanes did something that both the Hornets and Panthers have failed to, keep together their winning nucleus. Instead of allowing key players like Ron Francis and Bret Hedican to leave for "greener" pastures, the front office committed to keeping the team together. Maybe one huge free agent splash would have helped this team out, but with so many young players developing quickly, such as Kevin Weekes, Josef Vasicek, and Jaroslav Svoboda, I don't think the Hurricanes needed to do much in the free agent market. Keeping the team together should be enough to insure another successful season in 2002-2003 and another long playoff run.

Cooper
Charlotte, N.C.

I grew up a Whalers fan, and I still am. After the run Carolina made this past year, I have no reason to doubt that they will be successful once again. By maintaining their solid leadership in O'Neill and Francis, they have everything they need to compete for the Cup again. Though I wish they never moved, I am proud to say that I am a Whalers/Hurricanes fan once more.

Justin Friedman
Enfield, Conn.

I doubt I'm the only one in the world who thinks the 'Canes got to the finals by a fluke. Don't get me wrong, they're a solid team, but so is everyone else and that's why they're in the NHL. I seem to remember another fluke in 1998 -- the Washington Capitals -- that completely disappeared from the playoffs the next year after their Cinderella run at the Cup. The 'Canes have no legitimate youth besides Erik Cole, and he is mediocre at best.

David Lauber
Detroit

If the 'Canes repeat their 2001/2002 season, it will be a SAD day for hockey!!! Is there anything more boring than watching a 'Canes game?? I don't think so. How can a team tie or win so many games when they only score two or fewer goals??? Can you say, 1973 Kings with Rogie Vachon? Let's hope the league will change and open up the scoring some!!!

Tim Hammer
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Count me among the silent majority who think the Hurricanes were a one-hit wonder this past season. Yes, they got hot at the right time and yes, they certainly looked impressive imposing their will on teams like the Devils and Maple Leafs. You know who else looked impressive? The '91 North Stars, the '93 Kings, the '94 Canucks, the '96 Panthers, and the '98 Capitals. All came out of nowhere to go to the Stanley Cup finals, all lost, and all regressed the following few seasons.

The number one reason why Carolina will take a step or two back next season is because there's absolutely nothing special about them in the first place -- they simply got hot for six weeks. Their overall talent, while slightly above average, doesn't exactly conjure up memories of the old Penguins or Oilers. They have no legitimate 40-goal scorer, no Norris-caliber defenseman, and their starting goaltender is more famous for his 1978 glove and pads than for his actual abilities. They play good fundamental team defense, but if they're such an up-and-coming hockey power, why has it taken them so long just to break 90 points in the worst division in the NHL (Who else gets to play six games a year against Atlanta, Florida, and Tampa? It's highway robbery!)? Also, you've got to figure that the Capitals will be more formidable this year, if only because they can't possibly be any more or a disappointment than last year.

Finally, I think the BBC line will prove to be highly overrated. For all their hype, Cole and Battaglia fired blanks once the competition got tougher in the playoffs. They still have a lot of developing to do, and teams have had an entire offseason to scout them. I have no doubts about Brind'Amour's ability to produce, but no matter how you cut the cake, he's not going to chip in more than 30 goals. The production's going to have to come from elsewhere, but who will step up?

Dan Goldstein
San Carlos, Calif.