Carolina's remarkable postseason run ended with a loss to mighty Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals, but the Hurricanes are still poised to be among the top contenders for several years due to shrewd drafting by general manager Jim Rutherford and director of amateur scouting Sheldon Ferguson. And though the deep, talented Red Wings as a whole may be older than dirt, the cupboard won't be bare even if Dominik Hasek, Luc Robitaille and Brett Hull call it a career this offseason. CNNSI.com's Jon A. Dolezar looks at 10 teams with bright futures over the next five seasons. The teams are listed in order of their 2001-02 regular-season finish.
	DETROIT RED WINGS Regular-season record: 51-17-10-4, 116 points Regular-season finish: 1st in Western Conference 2002 postseason: Won Stanley Cup

Pavel Datsyuk Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images/NHLI The notion that the Red Wings sold their soul to the devil for one run at the Stanley Cup is simply foolish. Even if Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille join Scotty Bowman in retirement, Detroit still will be among the favorites next season, and likely for years to come. If Hasek hangs up his skates, the Wings surely will make a big push for unrestricted free agent Curtis Joseph. And it's not like Manny Legace (29) hasn't played well in his limited role, so even if CuJo doesn't come to Motown, goaltending shouldn't be a weakness. Center Pavel Datsyuk (23) and defenseman Jiri Fischer (21) both were brought along slowly this season, but were playing prominent roles in the postseason. Fischer and Datsyuk both have the potential to be among the 10 best players at their position within three years. Detroit also signed 21-year-old Swedish center Henrik Zetterberg, regarded as the best player in the world not in the NHL this season. Zetterberg had 32 points in 48 games with Timra in the Swedish first division this season, and could end up playing on one of the Wings' top two lines as a rookie, especially with Steve Yzerman likely sidelined for the first three months of the regular season. If 41-year-old Igor Larionov retires, youngsters Sean Avery (22) and Jason Williams (21) look ready to compete for playing time in the pivot on the last two lines. So even with many Wings getting long in the tooth, Hockeytown should be hosting games into late spring for several years to come.

	COLORADO AVALANCHE Regular-season record: 45-28-8-1, 99 points Regular-season finish: Tied for 2nd in Western Conference 2002 postseason: Lost to Detroit in Western Conference finals

Radim Vrbata Brian Bahr/NHLI/Getty Images Colorado is loaded with top offensive talent for years to come, especially with Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg just entering the prime of their careers. Milan Hejduk (26), Chris Drury (25) and Alex Tanguay (22) have all been on the Avs' top two lines for three seasons, while Steve Reinprecht (26) emerged as the team's No. 2 center this season. Radim Vrbata (21) spent most of the regular season on the top line with Sakic and Hejduk, but was a healthy scratch for 12 of Colorado's 21 playoff games. Vrbata has impressive potential, but the top six forward spots are hard to crack on a deep roster like Colorado's. The Avs don't have a lot of blueline depth on the horizon, as only Martin Skoula (22) has significant experience, and his poor play at the end of the season has made his future a bit more uncertain. Patrick Roy has two years left on the three-year contract he signed last July, and likely will retire when this current deal expires. David Aebischer (24) already has gained significant experience sitting behind Roy for two seasons and should be ready to go when Roy decides to hang up the skates. Behind Aebischer in the system are Phillipe Sauve (22) and Peter Budaj (19), both of whom could develop into No. 1 goalies.

	SAN JOSE SHARKS Regular-season record: 44-27-8-3, 99 points Regular-season finish: Tied for 2nd in Western Conference 2002 postseason: Lost to Colorado in second round

Evgeni Nabokov Jeff Gross/Getty Images/NHLI The San Jose Sharks have improved their regular-season point total for the past six seasons. If they make it seven in a row, odds are good that they will be in the running for the Presidents' Trophy. Though Teemu Selanne is likely to split in free agency, several emerging players are in place to pick up the slack. After struggling in the regular season, Patrick Marleau (22) caught fire and was San Jose's best player in the postseason. Defenseman Jeff Jillson (21) finished with 18 points in 48 regular-season games, but played in just four playoff games. The Sharks still expect Jillson to become a top offensive blueliner, and he is regarded as one of the best young rearguards in the league. In addition to Jillson, Mike Rathje (27), Scott Hannan (23) and Brad Stuart (22) give San Jose a solid quartet of defensemen for the future. The Sharks' strongpoint is their depth in goal. Evgeni Nabokov (26) looks like he will be a regular Vezina Trophy contender, while the Finnish duo of Miikka Kiprusoff (25) and Vesa Toskala (25) provide more than adequate backups.

	OTTAWA SENATORS Regular-season record: 39-27-9-7, 94 points Regular-season finish: 6th in Eastern Conference 2002 postseason: Lost to Toronto in second round

Martin Havlat Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI The trade of Alexei Yashin to the Islanders last year on draft day rid the Senators of their locker room cancer and got them two building blocks for the future. Ottawa's defense was vastly improved this season, due in large part to extra-large (6-foot-9) defenseman Zdeno Chara (25). Top prospect Jason Spezza (19) was the marquee part of the deal in the form of the second overall pick in the 2001 draft. Spezza scored 105 points in the OHL this season, but he also played for four teams in four years in juniors and struggled at times in clutch situations. The sure-thing star in the Sens' lineup is 21-year-old right wing Martin Havlat, a sniper with a knack for scoring pretty goals. Havlat still suffers through bouts of inconsistency like most young forwards, but could turn into an Art Ross candidate in a few years. Mike Fisher (22) and Marian Hossa (23) give Ottawa two other young forwards who can score. Wade Redden (25) saw his point total decrease from 47 to 34, but he posted his second consective year of plus-22 and remains one of the best young defensemen in the league.

	CAROLINA HURRICANES Regular-season record: 35-26-16-5, 91 points Regular-season finish: 7th in Eastern Conference 2002 postseason: Lost to Detroit in Stanley Cup finals

Erik Cole Rick Stewart/Getty Images/NHLI Forwards Erik Cole (23), Jaroslav Svoboda (22) and Josef Vasicek (21) all look like they could turn into top-flight forwards, even after the 'Canes lose veterans like Ron Francis from their roster. The 'Canes also have minor-leaguers Mike Zigomanis and Jeff Heerema on the radar eventually to play on their top two lines. Carolina's blue line is getting a bit old, but David Tanabe (21) and Nick Tselios (23) provide a good starting point as veterans Glen Wesley (33), Sean Hill (32) and Bret Hedican (31) head into the twilight of their careers. Hedican is an unrestricted free agent, but the 'Canes would be crazy to let him go, as he can serve as a tutor for fellow slick-skating defenseman Tanabe for a few years. In goal, Arturs Irbe showed he may have a few goods years left, bouncing back from a tough start in the Devils series to end up having a magnificent postseason. Kevin Weekes had a great 2 1/2 weeks in the playoffs after replacing Irbe, but he remains best suited for a backup role, albeit a strong second fiddle to Irbe.

	WASHINGTON CAPITALS Regular-season record: 36-33-11-2, 85 points Regular-season finish: 9th in Eastern Conference 2002 postseason: Did not qualify

Dainius Zubrus Doug Pensinger/NHLI/Getty Images The Washington Capitals were among the more disappointing teams in the 2001-02 regular season. After adding Jaromir Jagr to an already offensively gifted lineup with Peter Bondra and Sergei Gonchar, the Caps should've scored more than 228 goals. Washington gave up great prospects in Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk and Michal Sivek to get Jagr and their minor-league system was significantly depleted by this deal. But the future is again bright in D.C., largely thanks to the deadline deal that sent Adam Oates to the Flyers. The Caps got top goaltending prospect Maxime Ouellet and the Flyers' first three picks in next Saturday's draft in exchange for Oates, who was almost certain to bolt as an unrestricted free agent this summer anyway. The Caps made a deal last week with Dallas to move up to the 13th spot in the first round and they also hold Vancouver's 17th pick, so the Caps have three picks in the top 17. Even though this year's draft class isn't considered especially strong, Washington should get some good young talent to replenish its farm clubs. Right winger Dainius Zubrus should continue to emerge after last year's career-high 43-point season. Zubrus already has played 422 games in the NHL despite just turning 25 on Sunday. Also on the horizon are big center Brian Sutherby (20) and physical stay-at-home defenseman Jakub Cutta (20), each of whom could land a roster spot for the 2002-03 season.

	BUFFALO SABRES Regular-season record: 35-35-11-1, 82 points Regular-season finish: 10th in Eastern Conference 2002 postseason: Did not qualify

Maxim Afinogenov Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI If you're interested in goaltending and fancy skating, the Buffalo Sabres may be a good team to watch over the next few seasons. With Martin Biron (24), Mika Noronen (23) and Ryan Miller (21) in nets, the Sabres have what is likely the best goalie triumverate in the league. Up front, forwards Maxim Afinogenov (22), Tim Connolly (21), J.P. Dumont (24), Taylor Pyatt (20) and Miroslav Satan (27) offers Ice Capades-quality footwork, though their hands remain a work in progress. Connolly and Pyatt came from the Islanders in the Michael Peca trade, and both youngsters will be in Buffalo's top-six forward rotation for a long time to come. Connolly already has 86 assists in his career and look like a top playmaker in the making with his incredible stickhandling and vision. Afinogenov continues to puzzle the Sabres with his inconsistency, but he has a sniper's eye and a very quick release. Noronen has posted a 75-45-21 record in three seasons in the AHL and is ready if Biron stumbles. But Miller has the potential to make both Biron and Noronen expendable. The 2001 Hobey Baker Award, Miller has a 73-19-12 with a 1.54 GAA and a .940 save percentage in three seasons at Michigan State. If the Sabres can develop talent on the blueline to match their young forward and goaltenders, Buffalo should again be a perennial playoff team.

	TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Regular-season record: 27-40-11-4, 69 points Regular-season finish: Tied for 12th in Eastern Conference 2020 postseason: Did not qualify

Vincent Lecavalier Nevin Reid/Allsport It finally looks as if Tampa Bay's decade-long run around the NHL's basement is about to pay some dividends. For the 10th time in the past 11 years, the Lightning heads to draft day with a pick in the top 10. And the Bolts have built up quite a stable of young talent through the draft. They have a former No. 1 pick in Vincent Lecavalier (still just 22), with former juniors teammate -- and 2001 Calder runner-up Brad Richards (22) -- already in the NHL. And Nikita Alexeev (20) and 2001 first-round pick Alexander Svitov (just released from his military commitment in Russia) could make an impact in the next couple of years, as might the No. 4 pick in this year's draft. Pavel Kubina (25) has improved his point total each season and is the top young defenseman on the team. Kubina can be a solid offensive defenseman with a better supporting cast, but he needs to improve defensively, as evidenced by his minus-88 career mark in 299 games. But let's not forget the piece of the puzzle that finally gave the Lightning some legitimacy: world-class goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. In Khabibulin's first full season, Tampa Bay recorded its highest point total in five years. Imagine what they could do by giving Khabibulin a little help. Fortunately for the Bolts, more help could be on the way.

	FLORIDA PANTHERS Regular-season record: 22-44-10-6, 60 points Regular-season finish: 14th in Eastern Conference 2002 postseason: Did not qualify

Roberto Luongo Mitchell Layton/Getty Images/NHLI The Florida Panthers have endured a couple of difficult seasons, but with Mike Keenan at the helm and Roberto Luongo in the net, it's hard to imagine this team not making the postseason in the near future. Luongo is among the best young goaltenders in the league, even though his numbers don't stack up with the top flight 'keepers. That's due in large part to a porous defense that forced him to make 1,513 saves in 3,029 minutes this season. Fortunately for Luongo, Florida is likely to use the first overall pick in Saturday's NHL Entry Draft on defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, the top-rated player according to NHL Central Scouting. Bouwmeester isn't a physical presence, but he'll likely start the season with the big club and be asked to learn on the fly and develop his toughness as he goes. The Panthers also have the No. 10 pick in the draft. Florida is in good shape on the front line with a bevy of young forwards, highlighted by Calder Trophy finalist Kristian Huselius (23) who finished third among rookies in goals and points. Stephen Weiss (19), Denis Shvidki (21), Niklas Hagman (22), Ivan Novoseltsev (23), Olli Jokinen (23) and Marcus Nilson (24) round out the Panthers' young, and mostly European, corps of forwards.

	ATLANTA THRASHERS Regular-season record: 19-47-11-5, 54 points Regular-season finish: 15th in Eastern Conference 2002 postseason: Did not qualify

Ilya Kovalchuk Dave Sanford/Getty Images/NHLI The Atlanta Thrashers haven't had a lot of success in their first three years, but things are about to take a turn for the better in Dixie. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have co-Calder Trophy favorites Dany Heatley (21) and Ilya Kovalchuk (19) to build around. The Thrashers still are maintaining hope that the light bulb will go on in the head of 1999 No. 1 overall pick Patrik Stefan (21), who has scored just 22 goals in 197 games and has battled recurring concussions. Atlanta won't give up on Stefan yet, though he will have to battle for a spot on the top two lines this season rather than being handed one based on his draft status. The Thrashers have had a revolving door in the crease in the first three seasons, playing Damian Rhodes, Norm Maracle, Scott Fankhouser, Scott Langkow, Rick Tabaracci, Milan Hnilicka, Frederic Cassivi and Pasi Nurminen. Not exactly an octet that dreams are made of, is it? But Atlanta is pleased with Hnilicka and feels that Nurminen and Cassivi will battle to be the backup. Rookie center Mark Hartigan (24) scored 75 points in his junior year at St. Cloud State before signing with the Thrashers following the college season and playing two games with the Thrashers. He could provide a solid third scoring option behind Kovalchuk and Heatley, especially if he makes the transition from the U.S. college game to the NHL even half as well as Heatley did.