The Carolina Hurricanes will not be rolling out their main group against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 82 and instead will be letting its depth players take the reins in the final regular season game of the year.
With nothing to play for after their first round playoff position was set on Monday, the Canes are opting to rest as many of their starters as they can so as to not risk any injuries.
Per team reporter Walt Ruff, the players who did not skate this morning in Columbus and would appears that the team will be sitting are:
- Sebastian Aho
- Jake Guentzel
- Seth Jarvis
- Andrei Svechnikov
- Jordan Staal
- Jaccob Slavin
- Brett Pesce
- Frederik Andersen
In net, it looks like Spencer Martin will get the start for the first time since Feb. 29 and it will once again be against his former club. Pyotr Kochetkov will be the backup.
Making their NHL debuts will more than likely be 2023 first-round pick Bradly Nadeau and 2021 fourth-round pick Jackson Blake.
The two NCAA stars signed with Carolina just two weeks ago and will now be getting the chance to hit the ice for an actual NHL game.
The Hurricanes also recalled forward Max Comtois, who could be making his Hurricanes debut, and defenseman Dylan Coghlan from the AHL earlier today.
Coghlan wasn't at practice this morning so perhaps another Canes regular defenseman could be sitting as well.
Per Ruff, here's how the team was assembled for the morning skate in Columbus:
Teuvo Teravainen - Jack Drury - Martin Necas
Bradly Nadeau - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Jesper Fast
Max Comtois - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Stefan Noesen
Brendan Lemieux - Jordan Martinook - Jackson Blake
Brent Burns - Jalen Chatfield
Brady Skjei - Tony DeAngelo
Dmitry Orlov - Scott Morrow
Spencer Martin
Pyotr Kochetkov