With training camp scheduled to open next week, here are 5 questions facing Carolina going into next season.
In just about one weeks time, the Carolina Hurricanes will kick off training camp in preparation for the 2024-25 season.
It was an eventful offseason for Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky as he saw some key pieces from last season's roster depart this summer.
Tulsky's prized acquisition from last year's trade deadline, Jake Guentzel, went further south and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning and long-time Hurricanes Teuvo Teravainen, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei all went elsewhere when free agency opened on July 1st.
The Hurricanes also saw Stefan Noesen return to New Jersey where he started his NHL career and Evgeny Kuznetsov and the Canes mutually agreed to part ways, with Kuznetsov returning home to Russia to play in the KHL.
While the Hurricanes did not reel in any "big fish" in free agency or via trade, they did acquire some new faces in William Carrier, Tyson Jost, Shayne Gostisbehere, Sean Walker, Eric Robinson and Jack Roslovic. The additions may not carry the star power that some Hurricanes' fans may have hoped to see, but the main nucleus of the team remains intact.
Despite the changes, the Hurricanes are still expected to compete with the reigning Metropolitan division winners in the New York Rangers — and possibly the New Jersey Devils — for the division crown this coming season.
The Canes continue to be led by forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov with two-time Lady Byng winner Jaccob Slavin leading the way on defense.
With that said, here are 5 questions facing the Hurricanes heading into this season:
5. Can Fredrick Andersen stay healthy?
Last season was a tough one for Freddy Andersen who was limited to just 16 games after he was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis with subsequent pulmonary embolisms.
Andersen returned in March and was strong in goal for the Hurricanes down the stretch and into the playoffs, but over the last two seasons, Andersen has only started 50 games combined.
With the 25-year-old Pyotr Kochtekov nipping at Andersen's heels for the lion's share of the work load, staying healthy will be a big part for Andersen if he wants to maintain the crease in Carolina as the #1 goalie.
4. Will Seth Jarvis build off a career best season?
Fresh off signing a new 8-year, $59.36M contract, there will be big expectations for Seth Jarvis in the 2024-25 season.
Jarvis had himself a fantastic season last year, scoring 33 goals and 34 assists for 67 points. With the new contract in tow, GM Eric Tulsky will be expecting Jarvis to maintain or even improve upon that level of production.
Now that Teuvo Teravainen and Jake Guentzel have departed, the Hurricanes will need Jarvis to continue being a 30+ goal scorer going forward.
3. What kind of production will Martin Necas provide with an increased role?
At the end of last season, it seemed like Necas would not be returning to the Hurricanes for the 2024-25 season.
After the Hurricanes got eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Rangers in May, Marty Necas' Dad inferred that his son would be playing elsewhere next season as he wanted a bigger role.
However, on July 29th the Hurricanes re-signed Necas to a two-year contract extension. With the departures of Guentzel, Teravainen and Noesen, Necas will be poised to play a bigger and more integral role in the Canes' offense.
The Hurricanes will need Necas to replicate the year he had in 2022-23 when he had a career high of 71 points.
2. Will prospects Jackson Blake, Bradly Nadeau crack the roster?
Aside from defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is considered to be the Hurricanes top prospect, the organization's top two candidates amongst rookie forwards to make the jump to the NHL are Jackson Blake and Bradly Nadeau.
Both Blake and Nadeau made their NHL debuts for the Hurricanes last season, with both forwards playing in one game.
Blake turned pro last season after a great sophomore season at the University of North Dakota where he scored 60 points in 40 games.
Similar to Blake, Nadeau turned pro after leaving the University of Maine, where he scored 46 points in 37 games as a freshman.
While it's likely both start the year in the AHL, if one of Blake or Nadeau have a strong camp and impress head coach Rod Brind'Amour, it is possible they could get a look with the big club.
1. Are the Hurricanes still a top-3 team in the Metropolitan division?
Since the 2021-2022 season, the Hurricanes have won the Metropolitan division twice (in 2021-22 and 2022-23) and they finished second in the division last season.
While nothing is guaranteed and despite the offseason losses, it does seem logical that the Hurricanes will place no lower than third in the Metro this coming year.
Last year's winners, the New York Rangers, will be the Canes' main competition once again.
The Rangers did not make any major additions or lose any key players, but with former Vezina trophy winner Igor Shesterkin in goal and Artemi Panarin leading the way offensively, the Rangers figure to be the favorites to win the division once again.
The New Jersey Devils — who missed the playoffs last season after finishing just one point shy of the division crown to the Hurricanes in 22-23 — will also be in the mix for a top-3 finish after landing goaltender Jacob Markstrom to help stabilize the team in goal.
The Devils also added long-time Hurricane Brett Pesce on defense.
If Jack Hughes can stay healthy, the Devils will look to finish in a top-3 spot once again.