Carolina Hurricanes 2025-26 Season Preview

Carolina Hurricanes 2025-26 Season Preview

In today’s video, we continue on our season preview series looking at teams in the Metropolitan Division. Today, we look at the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have been a consistently good team for several years now. Will this be the year they get over the hump and go deeper into the playoffs, maybe even a Stanley Cup appearance? They made some offseason moves to suggest they’re pretty serious about trying to make that happen, but what should their expectations be? We’ll discuss the upcoming season for Carolina coming up next. So, welcome back to another video here at TopShelf Hockey. As I mentioned, today we look at the season preview for the Carolina Hurricanes. Now, in case you’re new to this series, basically what we’re going to do and how we’re structuring these videos is we’re going to quickly recap the 24-25 season. take a look at the team results, individual results, uh what moves they made in season, their playoff streaks, look at their cap space, how the team changed over the course of the summer, uh any rookies that might be noteworthy, any contract extension news that could be coming, any trades that might be coming, all that kind of stuff, as well as the expected lineup in top questions facing the team. So, let’s start first by recapping. 24-25 for the Hurricanes who had a pretty solid season. Had a 99 point season. 4730 and5 was their full record. Second place in the Metropolitan Division behind the surprise Washington Capitals, who I don’t think too many people predicted to be in first place, but they certainly proved many of us wrong. Uh Carolina scored 266 goals last year, which was the ninth best in the league. They allowed 230 goals, which was 10th best in the league. So overall, I said lots to be happy about. Uh they lost the to the eventual cup champions Florida in the conference final. 4 to one was a series. So uh all of their series were four games to one. The first two they won four games to one. Of course the last one they lose four games to one. So the Hurricanes again for the third time in seven years make the conference finals but can’t get over the hump and they can’t get to the cup final. And this was the first time though that they actually won a game in that round. The previous two trips to the conference final, they were swept. So I guess in some ways it was small progress, but overall I said a good season, but still short of the end goal here to get to the cup final and win themselves a Stanley Cup with this group. Uh like I said, they’ve been in the playoffs now for seven consecutive years. Um, they’ve won nine rounds over the course of that time, including, like I said, three trips to the conference final, which has been a big problem for them. Up until this past year, like I said, they hadn’t even won a single game. Um, so that was, like I said, small progress. Lost to the Panthers and it wasn’t close. So, um, you know, really good season, but you know, still good isn’t good enough sometimes when your big goal is to win the Stanley Cup. Top scorers for the team last year included Sebastian Au leading the team with 74 points. Seth Jarvis 67 points in a 30- goal season, Andre Svetchnikov 48 points, uh Shane Gosses Bear 45, and Jack Roslovvic 39. Of course, they made some big splashes last year as well. Of course, the Miko Rantin trade multiple times was arguably the one of the biggest, if not the biggest story in the NHL last year. They pull off a trade unexpectedly mid-season trading Marty Nas to the Avalanche for Miko Ratin. Uh Rantin of course was you could say a little bit of a contract dispute but not really. I mean the negotiations were not going well at least according to the Avalanche uh on an extension and they I think kind of got cold feet that they weren’t going to be able to get him signed that he wasn’t going to budge and they didn’t want to go to his number. So they felt they had to make a move and getting Marty Nous was obviously um you know Nas is not Rantin but he’s a really good player. He’s still I don’t think he’s fully peaked either. Obviously Carolina was well aware that he had reluctance to sign with them longterm only signing a short deal with them in the last offseason and they got a win-win. Marty Nes was actually leading the league in scoring and was right at the top there for the first part of the year as well. So you know a really good player. Um, but Carolina couldn’t get Renon signed. That was the bigger story of the of the really the whole thing is that Ranton comes to Carolina. I think, oh my god, the Hurricanes are finally going to be able to make some serious noise here in the playoffs. Maybe they’re suddenly a cup favorite. Uh, adding this big strong power forward who’s got quite the resume, you know, but then it doesn’t happen, you know, before the deadline. Again, he made it pretty clear to them that I don’t mind being here, but I’m not signing longterm. I’m not signing any extension. So, of course, they panicked, which they should, and traded them to Dallas. They get Logan Stanovven is the main piece coming back in that deal. Reton does sign a long-term deal with the Dallas Stars. And Stanovven fits really nicely in Carolina. And, you know, no disrespect to Logan Stanovven. Great player, but again, is he going to be as productive as either Rantin or Nas? It probably seems unlikely at this point, but you know, they they did the best they could. they still got a really good player back that fits with their team and systems well uh in a situation where they were at risk to lose a player that could walk right. So they they did the best they could but they brought that on themselves as I like to say because that was their own doing. They could have had Marty Nes instead and really kind of held Pat without knowing that they could sign Ranton. Was it a great move? It wasn’t. I mean I still know Manas didn’t want to be there long term but he was signed for another season. they could have prolonged that move. Um, so yeah, I I don’t know that Eric Tolski in his early in his GM tenures, you know, he’s I think hopefully learned some lessons there. Uh, they also picked up Taylor Hall, who was a nice addition to the team as well and did extend, but yeah, the rent in story was arguably the biggest in hockey last year. The camp space going into the season is in pretty good shape, 11.4 million available, so they have lots of room and flexibility to make upgrades should they find opportunities. uh looking at how the team has changed throughout the course of the offseason, the additions and subtractions here. Let’s start with players that are no longer with the Hurricanes. Uh veteran defenseman Brent Burns probably being the most notable here. Uh of course after coming over from the Sharks, spent some good productive years with the Hurricanes and I think they were open to bringing him back, but obviously he ended up signing in Colorado. Uh a little bit more of a not better offer. Uh Carolina wanted him to have a reduced role and uh he said they were willing to keep him and sign him but I think he didn’t really he liked the offer in Colorado better clearly. Um also Yesper Fast no longer with the team. Scott Morrow, uh Spencer Martin and of course Jack Roselovic right now remains unsigned. He’s not with anybody but that also includes the Hurricanes. He’s not with them either. Could he resign there? Maybe. Uh I wouldn’t completely rule it out. I mean, he is uh you know, like I said, the top player who didn’t get a contract this off season. I think it’s probably to his own doing for maybe being a little bit too picky. Um looked like he was looking for some term after having a pretty good year in Carolina last year with almost 40 points. And it’s surprising to me that he couldn’t get, you know, at least a two or threeear deal, but um yeah, nothing’s materialized for him here yet. The Canes do have the space, and I think they could make the room on the in the forward group form, too, if they decide to do that. But we’ll see. Uh, new to the team this year, the big signing in free agency was Nick Eers. Comes over from Winnipeg. So, that gives him another score. Um, so we’ll see if he can really help, especially come playoff time. Of course, Kandre Miller, another huge addition to this team after pulling off a big trade with the New York Rangers. And it was rumored that they basically threatened an offer sheet and ended up getting a trade done instead. But Miller will now be paid and play a big role um for the Hurricanes back end. So, we’ll see how that experiment works out. Uh, some depth options as well. They sign veteran defenseman Mike Riley, who’s likely going to be probably like a 67 type of guy. Kaden Primo, uh, comes over as a, you know, number three or four goalender, which will, you know, again, solidify their AHL options and call up options. But, I mean, Primo has done really well with the AHL, but has not done well with his call-up opportunities in the NHL. So, we will see where that goes. And they do have Javanni Smith as well on a PTO that might lead to a contract that’s looking a little bit promising. So, we’ll see where that goes. As far as rookies that could impact this roster this year, there’s really one that’s going to have the most impact in a second that I think will as well. Alexander Nikian of course came over late last year. Uh Nikeshan to me is a, you know, obviously spent a little extra time in Russia, so a little bit more of a mature rookie. Um, and to me will is prone to have a big impact. So I I think Nikian has potential to be in a Calder trophy conversation that we’ll see how things go but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get some votes at the very least and I do think Bradley Nadau who had a good camp unfortunately doesn’t look like he’s going to start the season on the roster but I I think he’ll be one of the first callups should they need to bring a body up due to injury and I think uh once he has an opportunity to get some more games in I I think he will stick eventually he’s going to be a really good player. Is there any contract extensions on this roster that could be noteworthy or newsworthy during the year? It’s possible. I don’t think we’re going to see it. The only ones that it could really be would be Freddy Anderson, who’s on a one-year deal, but I’m not completely sure that’ll happen in season. I think if it does, it could happen after. Uh Nikian as well, the rookie because of his age, did get a shorter entry- level contract and is um where he burned a year last year is already into the final year of that deal. Um but again, there’s no rush there. he’s restricted, hasn’t played a whole lot. So there there’s no need to rush out and sign him, but you know, if he’s having a really good first half of the season, could they see them maybe try to get ahead of things and get an extension done on a bridge or something? That that’s quite possible. Again, not really far from a guarantee. Wouldn’t be shocking if they really didn’t do much in the way of that type of thing until the off season. As far as trades go, there’s really nothing too obvious here. Uh I do wonder if they will want to add another forward to this group or maybe a veteran like a depth option on the back end as well. Um you know depending on the goalending maybe they make a move there too. Like I could see them wanting some reinforcements but there’s really nothing obvious. There’s nobody on the roster that I can say you know is likely or heavily rumored to be traded. The one name that does pop up is yes and but again that’s just a player I think they would part with if they have an opportunity to upgrade and it’s something that the other team wants. So we’ll we’ll see where it goes but nothing um obvious on the roster that I expect to be moved off. That’s for certain. The projected lineup going into opening night, your goalending duo will be Freddy Anderson and Peter Cochov. Your decor um pretty pretty basic right now. Now you’re looking at Slavven and Sean Walker. Uh, of course I do believe Slavven is dealing with an injury as well. So we’ll see. Hopefully he’s good to go. I’m not sure the exact status of him right now, but of course when he is healthy he’ll be on your top pair D. Uh Kandre Miller will be on the second pair. Right now it’s looking like based on the daily faceoff projection that’s probably going to be Jaylen Chatfield with him. Um, and then you’re having Nikin with Goss Bear, but we’ll see how all those pairs are are deployed. Um I don’t know that you’re going to see a huge change in minutes there. Gossess Bear will definitely get opportunity on the power play. So um could be a little bit more of a specialist there and play with Nikian on the third pair. That’s quite possible. Mike Riley likely going to be your number seven guy to start. Uh the forward group will likely have a top line of Sebastian Aaho, Seth Jarvis, and Nick Eers. That could be a really good dynamic line. Could be one of the better lines in hockey. We’ll see. Uh right now looking at Logan Stanovven as being your second line center. Rendimmore has been experimenting with that in camp and it looks like that’s probably going to be how it starts. Uh he’s likely going to u play down the middle between Fetchnikov and Jackson Blake. Um so we’ll see how that works out. You’re probably looking at a third line of Stall Martin and Kerier. That could very well be a fourth line. Your your two bottom six lines to be honest could kind of either be the third or the fourth. Hard to say. And the other line would be cocking the Emmy probably with Taylor Hall and Eric Robinson. Uh they also have Mark Janowski under contract who could be your 13th forward to start the year. Um so that’s how things are lining up as far as the top questions facing this team. Big one is between the pipes. Can Freddy Anderson be healthy and productive? I mean he’s usually uh productive generally speaking. He’s been a good goalie but he’s missed a ton of time and he seems to miss time when it matters the most. So, you know, what are they getting out of Freddy Anderson this year? How much is Kachchov going to have to play? Do they need reinforcements? There’s a lot of question marks. Um, and Anderson is on the final year of his deal. Only really signed short-term deals the last couple times. So, um, we’ll see where that goes. But Freddy’s availability and results will play a huge role in the outcome of this team. Uh, can Andre Fetchnikov get back to being, you know, a 30goal 70point player? uh you know, he really only did that once and he technically wasn’t even a 70-point player. He was just shy of that. But of course, that’s kind of what his new contract, which is not even new anymore, was based on, you know, making uh 7 and 3/4 million per season. And he’s been a pretty consistent 20 goal guy, right around 50 points. But they when they signed him to that they had expectations of him him being 30 plus hopefully hitting 40 but 30 plus for sure and at least 65 70 points and that has not been happening. Uh I know he had some injuries before. I I I don’t know that he’s really been fully the same. I think the injuries have taken a toll especially the knees. So you know his ability to be more productive again very very crucial to the uh results of this team. How’s KA Andre Miller going to fit in on the back end uh after coming off for the Rangers last year a very disappointing defensive season for a lot of people on that team. How’s he going to fit in? Is the investment going to pay off? I mean, that’s just a new player to a new system with a new team on a major increase in cash or I just the outcome of that will also be huge. We need to see the answer to that to really know where things go. And also, even though it looks like a good fit on paper, will Nick Eers be as good of a fit as it appears to be? Uh, will that speed playoff experience and just overall uh, you know, offensive production continue to kind of chug along and play a big role here for the Hurricanes? Can he be that missing ingredient in the playoffs that they’ve been looking for? Um, you know, certainly going to add another another option there, but you know, we’ll see what happens. But obviously with some key players to the team being new this year, you wonder how they’re going to get acclimated with the team and just how much productivity can they can get out of them early on or is it going to be a slow start and an adjustment period? That could mean, you know, a slower start or a quicker start depending on how those players really do. Uh cuz obviously guys like Eers and Keandre Miller will have a big impact. And of course, like I said, the health and consistency of Freddy Anderson uh also huge. Like I think Freddy’s been pretty consistent in his play, but it’s just been tough to rely on him to be there when the big game comes around to be available. So, let me know your thoughts and expectations for the Hurricanes. I would say personally that I expect him again to be near the top of the Metropolitan Division. I see them being a playoff team for sure in the Eastern Conference. Uh definitely a top three spot. I’m not sure I’d put them at the number one spot in their division, but they’ll be right up there. Uh though I can see them being first or second right in the mix between Carolina, New Jersey is the kind of the teams I expect to be one two this year. I do I think Washington might kind of step back a little bit. I think they’ll still be good, but not quite as good and I think the Rangers are going to be team stepping up as well. So we’ll see how the Hurricanes fare against their Metro rivals. Let me know your thoughts and expectations for this team in the comments. We’ll discuss further. If you’re new to the channel, make sure you subscribe and stick around. We’ll keep you up to date with all the news, rumors, and analysis of all 32 NHL teams. Thanks for watching. I’ll catch you next time. [Music]

Carolina Hurricanes 2025-26 Season Preview
NHL Regular Season 2025-26 is almost ready to begin. Today we preview the Carolina Hurricanes We discuss the additions, subtractions and Predictions for the upcoming seasons. Carolina Hurricanes trade Rumours, Carolina Hurricanes Top prospects and the 2026 NHL Draft.

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