Hurricanes at a glance
	Camp schedule: Sept. 11-19: TECO Arena (Ft. Myers, Fla.) Sept. 20: Entertainment and Sports Arena Coach: Paul Maurice (7th season, 203-210-64-3) General manager: Jim Rutherford (8th season)

It's Year Five since the great Hartford exodus, and still there's no finer spring talking topic in Carolina than how the Blue Devils and Tar Heels will fare in the tournament. Fine, that'll never change. But the fortunes of the Carolina Hurricanes -- they play hockey there -- have.

In the wake of an improbable pair of playoff wins that extended their first-round series with the Devils to six games, season-ticket sales jumped off the charts. Now it's the job of Jeff O'Neill and Sami Kapanen to keep them there.

Creaky forwards: Just when the Hurricanes are beginning to capture the fancy of their fans, too many of their players are getting old. Can they expect to get at least one more superb season from elder center Ron Francis and long-inconsistent winger Martin Gelinas? Meanwhile, though only 31, Rod Brind'Amour will be starting his 13th physically torturous season. Hopefully, that isn't another $5 million creak waiting to crack.

Strengthening the defense: Speaking of age, Glen Wesley isn't exactly green. The club's premier defenseman needs help -- particularly from overpaid and underachieving Sandis Ozolinsh -- to boost a young and talented blueline corps. Look for David Tanabe and Marek Malik to continue developing into fine NHL defensive finds, while veteran addition Aaron Ward provides much needed depth.

Marathon man: Arturs Irbe wants to play 100 games in goal a year. While the 'Canes would love to have the kind of postseason team that could go a 100-game distance, having a goalie who not only wants to, but has to play in every exhibition and regular-season sleepfest isn't such a great idea. So GM Jim Rutherford sought to sign a viable net reliever -- and he brought in a trusted relic in 36-year-old Tom Barrasso, who didn't play last season. Hmmm… Barrasso swears he is rested and ready to re-assume the form that helped the Penguins win two Stanley Cup championships a decade ago. It will be interesting to watch him try.

Hurricanes 2001-02 preseason schedule
Date	Opponent	Time
Sat., Sept. 15	vs. Tampa Bay at TECO Arena, Ft. Myers, Fla.	Canceled
Sun., Sept. 16	at Tampa Bay	Canceled
Tue., Sept. 18	vs. Florida at TECO Arena, Ft. Myers, Fla.	7:30 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 19	at Florida	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 22	Atlanta	7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 26	at Atlanta	11 a.m.
Fri., Sept. 28	Washington	7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 29	at Washington	7 p.m.