Metropolitan Division Breakout Candidates

Carolina Hurricanes

Apr 13, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Nathan Gerbe (42) during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the First Niagara Center. Sabres beat the Flyers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Nathan Gerbe – With a spot on the second line seemingly up for grabs, as well as the Canes’ recent success with reclamation proects (Alexander Semin, Jiri Tlusty), Gerbe seems like a good candidate to break out.  Bought out (seemingly unnecessarily) by the Sabres, Gerbe signed a league minimum deal but has the skill to be a real contributor.  Size will always be a knock against him, but his compete level and chip on his shoulder to prove Buffalo wrong could propel him to new heights.