The Hurricanes come into 2011-2012 having addressed their need to obtain big-bodied forwards to attack the net and to create net traffic. With Erik Cole no longer on the team, one of the biggest questions will be which players are going to play with Staal on the first line. Here are some variations for consideration.

Version 1:  I presume this is similar to what will be penciled in at the season's start

Skinner/Staal/Ruutu

Dalpe/Sutter/Ponikarovsky

LaRose/Jokinen/Stewart

Tlusty/Brent/Dwyer

Version 2:

Skinner/Staal/Ruutu

Dalpe/Sutter/Ponikarovsky

Boychuk/Jokinen/Stewart

LaRose/Brent/Dwyer

Version 3:

Dalpe/Staal/Ruutu

Skinner/Sutter/Ponikarovsky

Boychuk/Jokinen/Stewart

LaRose/Brent/Dwyer

Version 4:

Dalpe/Staal/Ponikarovsky

Skinner/Sutter/Ruutu

Boychuk/Jokinen/Stewart

LaRose/Brent/Dwyer

Version 5:

Dalpe/Staal/Ponikarovsky

Skinner/Ruutu/Jokinen

Boychuk/Jokinen/Stewart

LaRose/Brent/Dwyer

Version 6:

Dalpe/Staal/Jokinen

Skinner/Ruutu/Ponikarovsky

Boychuk/Sutter/Stewart

LaRose/Brent/Dwyer

Version 7:

Dalpe/Staal/Jokinen

Skinner/Ruutu/Ponikarovsky

LaRose/Sutter/Stewart

Tlusty/Brent/Dwyer

Version 8:

Skinner/Staal/Jokinen

Dalpe/Ruutu/Ponikarovsky

LaRose/Sutter/Stewart

Tlusty/Brent/Dwyer

Version 9:

Jokinen/Staal/Dalpe

Skinner/Ruutu/Ponikarovsky

LaRose/Sutter/Stewart

Tlusty/Brent/Dwyer

Version 9:

Jokinen/Staal/Ponikarovsky

Skinner/Ruutu/Dalpe

LaRose/Sutter/Stewart

Tlusty/Brent/Dwyer

Version 10:

Jokinen/Staal/Ponikarovsky

Skinner/Ruutu/Dalpe

Boychuk/Sutter/Stewart

LaRose/Brent/Dwyer