It's hard to know what's going on with the Canes. They aren't good enough to really contend, but they're surprisingly good. They aren't bad enough to really tank, but even cutest netminder Eddie Lack pitched his very first shutout when he played against the Leafs in January. (The Canes are 1-0-1 against the Leafs so far this season, and tonight's game will be the last in this series.)

What's really happening in Carolina? Are they the Jan Brady of sports, stuck forever just below the playoff bubble, but unable to make a significant impact on their personnel through the draft?

According to Bob McKenzie:

Right now...the Canes are playing pretty well, better than most anybody could have imagined. Jordan Staal and Jeff Skinner have re-discovered their games in a big way. Even on nights when the team doesn't play really well, like Tuesday night against the Flyers, rejuvenated netminder Cam Ward bails them out and they manufacture a W. Which, for an organization that hasn't been in the playoffs since 2009, is damn fine stuff.

The Canes' elephant in the room is, of course, Eric Staal. Everyone expects him to be traded, but the deadline sure is coming up quickly -- and since he ended his 16-game goal drought this past week, would he actually be an asset to a team kind of in contention?

One team that is in the picture for a possible trade is the New York Rangers, because Staal would probably waive his no-trade clause to go play with his other brother, although why they'd want yet another aging guy who used to score and lacks wheels is anyone's guess.

Tonight's battle with the Maple Leafs might sway things toward dealing Staal (if they lose) or keeping him (if they win). It's kind of exciting to be the team showing up at a pivotal moment in the Canes' franchise history!

And also -- GO LEAFS GO! Show your stuff, call-ups!