Questions Unanswered: Joni Pitkanen's health

After signing Joe Corvo and missing out on the Ryan Suter sweepstakes, Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford stated that he likes where the team's defense is right now and doesn't plan to make any other signings this off-season. Some might say that this is preposterous because of how poor the team's defense was last season and that entering the year with roughly the same defense corps would be a bad idea. There are a few factors that make this coming year's defense different from last season, though. Firstly, you have to account for some of the defensemen that the Hurricanes have in their system. Bobby Sanguinetti and Ryan Murphy are not locks to make the team by any stretch, but both players have a very good chance at cracking the opening night roster. Another thing to consider is that some of the younger talents like Justin Faulk and Jamie McBain could continue to improve and step into larger roles than they had last season. What I think will play the biggest factor, thoug...