The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season came to a close earlier this week as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
On Friday, select players met with the media in Raleigh for their end-of-season interviews.
Here are the interviews from some of the Canes' tenured players who are under contract for next season: Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Frederik Andersen, Sean Walker, Jalen Chatfield.
Be sure to check out the interviews from the leadership team too.
Seth Jarvis
On his shoulder injury: We loved where it was at at the start of the season in terms of the health of it and the strength and everything. Early on, it kind of started to slip a little bit and then retore all the work we had done on it and all the strengthening we did. Dealing with it again wasn't too bad. Kind of the same thing as last year. This summer, we were dancing around with the idea of what to do with it, but the season has gone pretty late and I don't want to miss a whole lot of time so I think we're going to go with the same protocol as last summer. Strengthen it, rehab it and maybe wear the brace from the very beginning of the year and go from there.
On if Olympic aspirations play into the decision not to have surgery: I mean, a little bit. That's definitely a big goal of mine and I wouldn't want to miss time and ruin that chance for myself. I have to keep that in mind for sure, but the number one goal is to be healthy for the team and for hopefully a long season and another a long postseason next year.
On if he's considered what he could accomplish if he had surgery and therefore a healthier shoulder: I mean, yeah. The only difference would be that I could probably throw a real nice spiral. That would probably change a lot. My softball league I play in in the summer would probably appreciate me being able to throw again, but hockey-wise, it doesn't really do a whole lot for me. I mean, I can't catch a puck up here [motions above himself] because of the brace, but other than that, everything as if I had a healthy shoulder. Just playing through a little more pain than normal.
On his growth as a goal scorer: Just a lot of work. It's been a long road. There's still definitely levels I want to get to in that department, but I think just figuring out how to score in this league is one of the biggest challenges. The league's always changing and goalies are getting better, so it's always a work in progress, but I think figuring out different ways to score, scoring from different areas and just overall expanding my game offensively that way has been something I've put a lot of focus into and I'm glad I'm starting to see the benefits of it.
On if the loss to Florida paints a clearer picture of what they may need to add in the offseason: I think there's definitely a lot of pieces out there that I think any team in the NHL would want to get, especially free agent wise, but I mean, you have to make sure they fit with the team, the culture. I think what we have in that locker room is really special and you don't want to disrupt that and I think that's a big reason why we got so far this year with the team we did was because of how everyone bought in and everyone worked so hard just to get to the playoffs and prove those people wrong. Then to make a run like we did was really special and I think building off of that, when you can bring in high-end talent, that'd be great, but you also have to make sure they fit in with the culture and the way the team is organized.
On if he felt like this was still a playoff team heading into the season despite all the losses: We lost a lot of my good friends, which that part sucked for me, but I think hockey wise, I was just ready to get going and see where it was going to take us. It's a really long season and it's tough to judge it off of the offseason and the first couple of weeks. I think when we started to find our groove early and then obviously with everything that happened around the trade deadline and stuff like that, the team definitely looked a lot different, but I didn't think missing the playoffs was an option and I don't think anyone in that locker room thought any different.
On how he lets go of a season-ending loss: I don't know. It takes a while for sure. Obviously people handle it differently. I mean, you can kind of think back on in and think on what we could have done differently, but that doesn't really help anything. I like to think about the positive moments. About the times where maybe stuff wasn't going well, but we turned it around or all the fun we had on the road or just as a team in general. I think then the other stuff kind of fades away to the back. Obviously you need to kind of remember that pain you felt when you lost and you always keep that in the back of your mind, but for me, it's about thinking about the positives of the season and the group we had and how much fun we had. All the battles and stuff like that. I think all that makes getting over it a little easier and makes you get even more excited for the next season.
On what the summer will look like for him: Probably the same as it did last summer. Obviously it feels like the goal every year is to get bigger and stronger and that's been a work-in-progress. But yeah. I think it's just getting back home, seeing my buddies, getting comfortable again and then getting in the gym as soon as possible, recovering my body, my shoulder and see how long my trainer doesn't let me step on the ice and then go from there.
Andrei Svechnikov
On if he feels his strong playoffs can be a good reset for him: I wasn't thinking about anything really this season all that stuff. It's still fresh. Kind of just lost the playoffs a couple days ago. I just want to say that I kind of know what kind of player I am and what I can bring. That's how I have to play every time, every game, every season. I'm going to try to find that next season and bring that game to the next season and just focus on the game.
On if he feels like his playoff success can be a springboard for him: Not necessarily. I don't think it's going to help me because every season is different. Like I said, I'm just going to try and focus and try to obviously put this game to my next season. I'm gonna try and hopefully I'm gonna have the best season next season. But preparation stuff, I think just doing what I always do. Maybe change a few things and try to get better. See what's going on and see where I can get better as well.
On what this team needs to get to the next level: You know, we have a really good team. We got everything I feel that we need. Maybe a couple of pieces, I don't know. But I think we have everything. I think we have a good team, great system, great coaching and we believe in this and we believe we can do this. We have to get a little bit lucky and stay healthy in the playoffs especially.
On if he was fully healthy this postseason: Yeah, I was good. Nothing going on.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
On how he feel he played this season: I mean, we were excited coming into this year. I think we had a really good start there. You know, I think the playoffs are always a little disappointing for everyone, but I think overall in the regular season, had a good start with [Martin Necas] and [Eric Robinson] there for a long time. Had a good line going on there. You know, playing third or fourth lines, I think it was a decent year.
On his approach to the summer: I think I just want to come back a little stronger. Have a good summer. Always a new chance when you come in the next year. Pumped for that one.
On if he feels there's still another level to his game offensively: I hope so. I feel I was drafted as a big skill guy. Haven't really gotten there yet, but hopefully that's coming.
'It Was A Decent Year': Jesperi Kotkaniemi 2024-25 Exit Interview
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/shortUrl/CJgdN4l">came to a close earlier this week</a> as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Frederik Andersen
On how he'll approach next season to make sure he's ready come playoff time: It's tough to set a specific goal, but I think just being available obviously is the goal. You'll probably see us share the net a lot if we're both going and healthy. But I think the ultimate goal is just to be available. I know I can play at a high level when I am and I think that's definitely the goal. To be able to just have a good offseason and come back as good as possible. To be healthy and set myself up to have a chance to play.
On how he evaluates the way the postseason went: I felt like I was in a really good spot mentally. Set myself up to play well. Obviously it sucks sitting here and really not having anything to show for it. I think that's the frustrating part. We know we had big aspirations and they're not what we came out with. I don't want to sit here and talk about lessons, but I think we did see a team that knows how to play in these types of situations and I think they hit us hard a few times, especially in the four games that we lost. I think it showed that when they smelled blood, they went for it and kind of got us a little bit. As a team and individuals, we have to play to our very best to reach that goal and I don't think we really gave ourselves the best chance of winning. Obviously that's not a guarantee, even when we play our best, to win, but I think we could have given ourselves a better chance.
On how he feels physically coming out of the season: Good. I think I felt pretty good. As the season goes on, you accumulate smaller stuff, but I thought we did a good job in the medical room and with myself too, to deal with that. I felt good.
'I Don't Think We Gave Ourselves The Best Chance Of Winning': Frederik Andersen 2024-25 Exit Interview
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/shortUrl/CJgdN4l">came to a close earlier this week</a> as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Sean Walker
On what his injury was: Obviously a shoulder injury. No surgery though, which is great. Everything will be good for next year. But yeah, it was disappointing. I felt like I was playing pretty good, contributing. Sucked to sit out and having to watch was definitely tough.
On how he got injured: I kind of hurt it in our last regular season game against Washington. But it was just minor at that time and actually feeling really good, but then the Greer hit kind of set me back pretty significantly.
On if he would have had a chance of returning: Probably not this series. It's been making good progress, so I was hoping if we got to the Finals that I'd then be able to rejoin the lineup.
On if he's looking for more opportunity next year: It's not something necessarily I'm eyeing, but I'd love to help the team. I feel like if I'm playing good, I can play in those roles. At the end of the day, I just want to come play the best I can and wherever they think I fit in the lineup that'll help the team win is where I'll be happy.
'Wherever They Think I Fit Is Where I'll Be Happy': Sean Walker 2024-25 Exit Interview
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/shortUrl/CJgdN4l">came to a close earlier this week</a> as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Jalen Chatfield
On his injury: It was just something in the hip. It’s hard when you get that to try and skate. Just couldn’t get to that speed where I would even be capable of helping the team on the ice, but I was able to get back on the ice before the last game and was hoping it was just gonna be another game or two before I could return. I was super close, for sure.
On if he’ll need any procedures: No. Nothing bad. Just going to take more time now to rehab it. A little extra time and I’ll be good to go.
On the emotions of only being able to watch: This is the best part of the year. You grind all year with the boys and you know making it as far as we did and playing against Florida, it was tough watching. But I just tried to be there supporting all the guys any way I could. Just being positive around the room and work as hard as I could every day to get myself back to help the guys.
On the blueline: Losing [Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei] was big shoes to fill, but the guys we brought in, I think we all stepped up. We played our role and it's all about what you can do to help the team. You never know what the team is going to look like next year. Hopefully everybody's back, but I think whatever group we have moving forward, those are the guys and we have to go out there, play hard and play our game and just work together.
On Alexander Nikishin: He's physical, has a heavy shot. He's also a great guy around the room. His English may not be the best, but you can easily talk with him and he's willing to get better. He already proved playing over there that he can play the game. Me, watching him up top, I could see just how he got better every game and how elite he really can be. It's going to be fun getting to play with him and on the same team as him and all that good stuff.
'I Was Super Close': Jalen Chatfield 2024-25 Exit Interview
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/shortUrl/CJgdN4l">came to a close earlier this week</a> as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
2024-25 Exit Interviews
Jordan Staal
Sebastian Aho
Jaccob Slavin
Jordan Martinook
Jalen Chatfield
Sean Walker
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Frederik Andersen
Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov
Alexander Nikishin
Scott Morrow
Logan Stankoven
Eric Robinson
Dmitry Orlov
Brent Burns
Rod Brind'Amour and Eric Tulsky
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