The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate their Stanley Cup win.
AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker
The Carolina Hurricanes enter the 2026-27 season as the reigning Stanley Cup champions. This season will see a lot of changes in the NHL, with teams making key roster decisions, as well as injuries affecting every team. One thing the Hurricanes are hoping doesn’t change is lifting the Stanley Cup.
Offseason recap
The Hurricanes have had a mostly quiet offseason, with few additions to the team. The main addition was defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Joseph played for the Vancouver Canucks last season. During his time in Vancouver, he played 31 games and had one goal and five assists. Joseph is looking to have a consistent role with the Hurricanes this season.
The Hurricanes re-signed defenseman Mike Reilly to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. The 33-year-old played 42 games in the regular season, with one goal and eight assists during that time. Reilly was also part of the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run, contributing two assists in the two games he played in the postseason. Like Joseph, Reilly is competing for a consistent role on one of the Hurricanes’ defensive lines.
Other signings include center Skyler Brind’Amour, son of head coach Rod Brind’Amour, as well as goalie Cayden Primeau, who saw some playtime with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. However, both of these players, and the majority of other signings this past offseason, will be playing for the minor league team, the Chicago Wolves.
The Hurricanes lost a few pieces over this offseason, including goaltender Frederik Andersen. Over the summer, he signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Andersen spent the last five seasons with the Hurricanes, and he was the main starter for the Hurricanes in their Stanley Cup run, before being taken out of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals due to a knee injury in the previous game.
The Hurricanes may not be done with offseason moves, as defenseman Alexander Nikishin requested a trade from the Hurricanes earlier this offseason. With no signing from the Hurricanes for the restricted free agent and the regular season beginning soon, the team will have to figure out what to do with the young defenseman.
Scouting the Eastern Conference
This offseason saw a few key additions to other teams in the Eastern Conference. These new additions may create stronger competition for the Hurricanes this season.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour raises the Stanley Cup
AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker
The Washington Capitals were one of the teams that made big moves this offseason. The Capitals revamped their forwards with signings such as Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres and Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues. These new signings will also help with what could be Alex Ovechkin’s last year. Ovechkin signed a one-year deal with Washington at 40 years old — he doesn’t have much time left to win a Stanley Cup. Washington will look to go all in this season.
Another team that was active this offseason was the Florida Panthers. The Panthers struggled last season due to key injuries and inconsistent goaltending. However, this year the team, led by forward Matthew Tkachuk, will be healthier at the start of the season compared to last season. In a trade with the Ottawa Senators, Florida acquired forward Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk’s brother. The Panthers also acquired New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markström, who brings more consistent goaltending.
Other teams that will be competitive in the Eastern Conference include the Montreal Canadiens, who have a young core and made it to the conference finals last year, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning will be tough competitors this season with a core that has been a playoff team for the past nine seasons.
How to go back-to-back
The Hurricanes will face multiple challenges heading into the new season, one being key injuries to the team. Forward Seth Jarvis got shoulder surgery for a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder right after the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run. Jarvis chose to play through the pain before the playoffs. The surgery will keep him out at least until late October, perhaps until late December. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed hopes that Jarvis will start playing closer to late October.
Forward Eric Robinson also had surgery this offseason, needing knee surgery after the playoff run. However, Robinson’s return should be closer than Jarvis’ with the team hoping to see him back before the first game of the season.
Carolina celebrates the Stanley Cup.
AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker
Even with injuries and a mostly quiet offseason, the Hurricanes will be in good shape. Brind’Amour has never missed the playoffs as the Hurricanes head coach. Over the years, he has built a locker room that can succeed on the ice. The team has also built strong leadership; forward and captain Jordan Staal has been a leader for the team ever since he was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012. He proved his leadership in the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the best player of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Goaltending will not be an issue even with the loss of Frederik Andersen. Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov missed most of last season due to hip surgery; before the injury, he was a consistent goalie for the Hurricanes and will look to return to form. Last season, goalie Brandon Bussi proved he could also be a starting goalie when he took over during the playoffs after Andersen’s injury, to help secure the Stanley Cup coming to Raleigh.
Up next
The Carolina Hurricanes will start their season on Sept. 29th against the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center in Raleigh at 5 p.m. They will also raise their Stanley Cup championship banner before the game, with coverage for both available on ESPN.