Rod Brind’Amour moved swiftly, seemingly with a little extra bounce in his step, as the Carolina Hurricanes coach took the ice Thursday at Invisalign Arena.
It was the first day of preseason training camp and Brind’’Amour, now in his eighth year as head coach, was eager to get things started.
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“This was my first practice, too,” Brind’Amour said. “I’ve been off for a long time and I have to get dialed in.”
The 48-man camp roster has been split into two groups, and the first on the ice Thursday morning had the regulars. Quickly noticeable: Defenseman Jaccob Slavin was not among them and might be out a “few days,” Brind’Amour said.
“We’re just holding him off,” Brind’Amour said. “He trains pretty hard in the summer. He was feeling a little sore, so if you’re not feeling good, you’re not going out.
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“Until he says he’s a hundred percent, we’re not going to put him out there. He could have been out there, but that’s just how we’re going to do that.”
Carolina Hurricanes right win Jackson Blake (53) skates with Jaccob Slavin (74) during practice as they prepare for their Stanley Cup series against the Washington Capitals on Friday, May 2, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
In addition to Slavin being out, defenseman K’Andre Miller and center Mark Jankowski both wore yellow, no-contact jerseys in the first session. Brind’Amour said both were a “little nicked up” during the summer.
Miller, who Carolina acquired from the New York Rangers in July, had skated with a number of Canes players during informal workouts at Invisalign. But this was his first official practice with his new team, with Brind’Amour on the ice, and he was paired on defense at times with Jalen Chatfield.
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“I’m sure in my five years there (in New York) I had a lot of doubters and people voicing their opinion about my game,” Miller said. “I’m excited to use that fuel for my game … and as added motivation.
“I always thought Carolina was the toughest team for me to play against on the other side, with their speed and skilI. It’s a really good franchise and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
New faces, new places
“Excited” was the operative word Thursday. It’s always that way on the first day of camp, when the last season is fully forgotten and a new one begins, when players are fresh and frisky.
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Across the Canes locker room, another newcomer was having his first face-to-face exchange with the media, smiling and shaking hands as he fielded questions: Forward Nik Ehlers, who caused ripples in July by leaving the Winnipeg Jets to sign a free-agent contract with the Hurricanes. After playing his first 10 seasons in Winnipeg, he took the ice for the first time with a different team Thursday.
“I’m excited to find the chemistry with guys, and that’s going to be fun,” Ehlers said. “I’m excited for the challenges ahead. Hopefully we can make something great happen.”
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) and Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) battle over the puck during the second period at Lenovo Center.
During Thursday’s practice, Ehlers was used at left wing on Sebastian Aho’s line opposite winger Seth Jarvis. And while Brind’Amour likes to say — and did again Thursday — not to “read anything” into practice line combinations, odds are that could be the Canes’ top line on opening night, Oct. 9 against the New Jersey Devils.
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And Logan Stankoven could be the second-line center.
After his trade to the Canes from the Dallas Stars, Stankoven was used on the wing by Brind’Amour through the end of the regular season and in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But there he was Thursday at center with Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake on the wings.
The other lines had captain Jordan Staal centering Jordan Martinook and William Carrier, and either Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Jankowski at center with Taylor Hall and Eric Robinson.
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Stankoven, 22, said he last lined up at center in junior hockey, smiling as he said it. Drafted by the Stars in 2021, he played his first 83 NHL games for Dallas over two seasons before the trade to Carolina, and was another starting preseason camp with a different team.
“I think it was a productive summer for myself, and when you put the work in, you’re looking forward to showcasing it in training camp and as the season progresses,” Stankoven said.
New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (79) jostles with Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24). The Hurricanes traded for Miller on Tuesday and signed him to an eight-year deal.
‘A new life’
On the defensive side, other than Miller and Chatfield, Brind’Amour had Alexander Nikishin paired with Shayne Gostisbehere, and Mike Reilly with Scott Walker. Reilly, another free-agent signee, has played more than 400 NHL games with six teams, but missed much of last season with the Islanders after a heart procedure.
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A year, Brind’Amour was left fretting a bit after the Canes lost such lineup staples as defensemen Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei in free agency and couldn’t re-sign forward Jake Guentzel. He then came into training camp looking at a number of new faces. Not so this time.
“Less changeover is nice,” Brind’Amour said Thursday. “There’s less explaining to do from my end. Instead of eight guys, you only have three you have to focus on because everyone else knows what’s going on. So that’s a little easier, maybe.
“But every year takes on a new life. Whatever you did last year or past years, everybody is starting in the same spot. That’s exciting, too.”