2. Ehlers, Miller add speed<\/p>\n
Another significant move by the Hurricanes this offseason was the acquisition of defenseman K’Andre Miller<\/a> from their Metropolitan division rival New York Rangers. While Miller hasn\u2019t reached either the 10-goal or 45-point mark in any of his five NHL seasons, he is a high-upside player given his size (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) and skating ability. Miller ranked among the defensemen leaders in top skating speed (23.20 miles per hour; 94th percentile), 20-plus mph speed bursts (73; 89th percentile) and total skating distance (232.43 miles; 84th percentile).<\/p>\n Ehlers possesses elite skating speed too as he ranked highly among forwards in top skating speed (23.30 mph; 94th percentile), 20-plus mph speed bursts (153; 86th percentile) and 22-plus mph speed bursts (11; 91st percentile) last season. Carolina ranked among the top 10 teams in 20-plus mph bursts (1,851; eighth) and 22-plus mph bursts (98; sixth) last season, and these additions could translate into even more speed for a roster that reached the Eastern Conference Final.<\/p>\n 3. Offensive zone time percentage<\/p>\n The Hurricanes led the NHL in offensive zone time percentage at all strengths (47.2) last season and had five of the top seven players in that category, led by defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere<\/a> (51.3; first) and followed by forwards Aho (50.2; second), Blake (49.6; third), Svechnikov (49.2; fifth) and Jarvis (49.1; tied for sixth).<\/p>\n Carolina lost two of its top four players in average ice time from last season in defensemen Brent Burns<\/a> (second at 20:57 per game; signed with Colorado Avalanche) and Dmitry Orlov<\/a> (fourth at 20:00 per game; signed with San Jose Sharks). But the Hurricanes still have plenty of depth on defense with the addition of Miller (25 years old) and integration of rookie Alexander Nikishin<\/a> (23), who made his NHL debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after having 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 61 games for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League. The addition of Ehlers can only strengthen an offense that was already ninth in goals (3.24) and second in shots on goal (31.7) per game.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes had the NHL\u2019s best offensive zone time percentage at even strength (47.1) and ranked in the top five of that category on both the power play (60.6; fifth) and penalty kill (32.3; second). Carolina also led the League in shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 (58.4), indicating it can contend for the Presidents\u2019 Trophy this season and that its Stanley Cup window remains wide open.<\/p>\n