The Carolina Hurricanes own the NHL's longest active playoff drought at nine seasons, but Calvin de Haan believes there is reason for optimism this year.

“We’ve heard good things about the area,” de Haan told The Raleigh News and Observer of his decision to sign in Carolina. “It seems like a great place to live. I like the direction that the team’s going.

"I’ve said this before that the Hurricanes over the past few years and during my time in the NHL I think they’ve underachieved. I want to be part of the solution to get this team into the playoffs.”

The Hurricanes revamped their defence this summer, signing de Haan to a four-year deal and adding Dougie Hamilton.

The new duo will join returnees Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Justin Faulk and Trevor van Riemsdyk on the team's blueline, which general manager Don Waddell said he believes will rank among the top groups in the league.

De Haan was limited to just 33 games last season due to a shoulder injury, but believes he'll be able to fill a top-four role on the Hurricanes this season. With just 12 goals in 304 career NHL games, the 27-year-old said he's looking forward to playing alongside an offensive defenceman such as Hamilton, who was tied for the league lead among blueliners with 17 goals last season.

“It’s going to make my job a lot easier to give the puck to guys like that,” de Haan said. “All the experts are saying that we have a great blueline, and I don’t think they’re wrong. I know [from] playing against the Hurricanes for the past few years [that] it’s pretty stingy back there. It’s not easy to enter that offensive zone.”

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said prior to the off-season that the team wanted to change their culture this summer. They have since hired a new head coach in Rod Brind'Amour, traded Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin and added goaltender Petr Mrazek. NHL.com projects the Hurricanes could have as many as 10 faces on their bench this season.

De Haan said he believes the Hurricanes, who missed the playoffs by 14 points last season, have the necessary pieces to end their playoff drought.

“I kind of want to isolate myself on that back end as a top-four guy. That’s basically it,” de Haan said. “I want to be out there, block shots, kill penalties and help this team - I’ve said it a thousand times - but I want to help this team win, to be honest, and we want to get back into the playoffs.

“There’s a lot of good, young talent here, and I don’t see why this team can’t make it into the playoffs.”