to me they seem like one of the best teams in the league ( on paper at least)

They're consistently inconsistent.

Well, it seems that the team is finally got their groove back, but there is many factors that have been causing inconsistency. And for once, it is not Ward. He is been lights out ever since returning from his injury, but he is not getting the help on both ends. Either people cough up the puck & all of a sudden the puck is in the net, or the team is just not capitalizing. The powerplay is finally been clicking, before they were just struggling to put one in, whether it was a one or two man advantage. Offense was pretty dry before too, with a lot of games where the team only scored once or twice. If the giveaways stop, u will see the team back to where they should be. l also hate to use injuries as an excuse, but at one time, 4 of our top 6 regular D-men were out, similar to what Washington dealt with. Teams would just seem to score freely on them. Now, the team is almost got everyone back, including the return of Justin Williams, easily one of the team is top 6 forwards.

Hope that helped.

Everything has gone wrong in Carolina..the D is extremely sloppy, the offense is barely producing and the goaltending has been decent.

l just do not think they are that good... l find they are not that good on paper!
After Staal and BrindAmour, their forward corps really slacks off (hell, even Ottawa has the big 3. l like TB is forward corps better)! As for their D.what is to like? A bunch of journeymen. Pitkanen? Ugh.
Cam Ward has a nice run in the Finals a couple of years back but has been inconsisant since then.... l REALLY think Eric Staal is a stud though.LOL Samsonov? Ugh.

l would have to say injuries.

That poor team gets plagued.

As a canes fan l wonder this myself. l can not always blame it on injuries, but sometimes l think it has a lot to do with it. Even though others seem to think we do not have a good defense, l on the other hand love our defensemen, they benefit the team a lot. l do not think the canes r that great on paper either. l think they have been sloppy, they seem to turnover pucks & just not capitalizing on their shots. The power play has been lacking & they have not capitalized on their chances. l think the canes win when the whole team is working. Sometimes just the forwards r producing & the defense is lacking & viceversa.

Because their Players the ones that we're good are playing for other teams, The Hurricanes may make the Playoffs, but you said they are Inconsistent, l agree they are not the other teams that would make the Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Bruins, Rangers Canadiens, Devils, Flyers, Penguins and Capitals l say Buffalo and Florida look better then Carolina right now the record wo not show now but it will later on.

Trust me