A championship run in the past, a new season ahead
Only about three months separated the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup triumph from the start of preseason camp, and the team is already looking ahead. Top-line center Sebastian Aho said Thursday that the experience and confidence from the run are invaluable, but that dwelling on it does not help the team now. He noted that three months earlier the group was playing excellent hockey and achieved a long-held dream, yet that does not assist them today.[S1]
Monday marked three months since Carolina shut out the Vegas Golden Knights on the road in Game 6 to claim the Cup for the second time in franchise history. Since then, the team celebrated with a parade that drew a six-figure crowd to downtown Raleigh and players received their individual days with the trophy. The roster that returned is largely the same as the one that closed last season with three consecutive victories under head coach Rod Brind'Amour.[S1]
Roster changes and injury updates
Not everything is unchanged. Top goaltender Frederik Andersen departed after signing a one-year contract with Edmonton. Rising defenseman Alexander Nikishin is not in camp as a restricted free agent still awaiting a deal after playing on Carolina's third pairing; general manager Eric Tulsky issued a statement Wednesday saying the team would not comment on Nikishin's status. The Hurricanes are also monitoring top-line forward Seth Jarvis, who had shoulder surgery in June with a potential recovery time of four to six months. Jarvis has resumed skating, but Thursday felt different with more players on the ice and a need to be careful about bumping into others.[S1]
Understand this article deeper
On Tuesday, the team reached a one-year extension with captain and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jordan Staal through the 2027-28 season. Staal said he wanted to keep playing with his teammates and that he has too much fun with the group and everything they have built. Brind'Amour noted that the players understand what it takes because they have done it, and that the passion and grit required to win in the league do not disappear after a title; instead they likely intensify, requiring the team to find an extra edge. He added that opponents always prepared for Carolina, but now the Hurricanes are even more of a target.[S1]
From conference-final frustration to a 16-3 postseason
For years, Carolina had been an Eastern Conference contender that could not get past the conference final, notably being swept by Florida in 2023 and then losing to the Panthers in a five-game series in 2025. That marked the third time in a seven-season playoff run that the Hurricanes had hit the same ceiling. Last spring, however, they swept Ottawa and Philadelphia in the first two rounds, then recovered from a Game 1 loss to Montreal to win the Eastern Conference Final in five games on the way to a dominant 16-3 postseason run.[S1]
