The captain weighs in

It's the day before the opening of Hurricanes training camp, so why not a few thoughts from the captain?

Rod Brind'Amour is starting his 10th season with the Canes and says he has had a strong offseason. Here's some of what he had to say this week after the last of the informal "Camp Brindy" workouts at the RecZone:

On this year's team — "We seem to be a real veteran team, and I like that ..." he said. "Guys know how to win, guys know what it takes to get the job done."

On the possibilities this season — "We can talk all we want but it's probably going to come down to probably we're going to have to have good special teams and have to have goaltending. If we have that, then all these other pieces will make the difference. ..."

On being healthy this year — "It's more just that you're excited that all the hard work you've done now is going to end, in terms of the training. Now you get to go out and hone your game. Get it up to game speed.

"I've been working hard since May. That kind of cycle is ending and now we move into the hockey cycle. Training camps are a bore, in every sport, especially when you've been around as long as I have. The date is not September 12, it's October 2 in you head. You're building toward that."

On having four preseason games — "It's great. Nobody really wants to play a lot of those. They don't count. ... It's a good practice but you want to play for real."