The Hurricanes need to take a big swing as East remains wide open

The Carolina Hurricanes have gotten off to a very strong start in the first half of 2025-26, going 25-14-3 with 53 points through their first 42 games, good for first in the Metropolitan Division and second in the Eastern Conference.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the Hurricanes’ good start and if they should try to make a big splash via trade.

Tyler Yaremchuk: The Hurricanes will be judged on whether they can finally make it to a Stanley Cup Final. My piece of feedback for the Hurricanes is: “Don’t risk it … risk it.” If you’re the Canes, you can’t sit there and go, “You know what? We’re the best team in our division, the path to the Eastern Conference Final looks good, let’s not go crazy and spend a bunch of assets.”

No — you need to make sure all your bases are covered. How screwed would they be right now if they didn’t claim Brandon Bussi off waivers? Pyotr Kochetkov is out for the year, Frederik Andersen has been below average for the entire season when he’s been available, and Bussi has been the guy for them. He’s been great, but do you need to add insurance between the pipes?

Carolina has $14 million in cap space. Go see if you can take a big swing somewhere and add a significant piece. I don’t think you can sit there and do the whole, “We’re good enough to win a couple rounds, let’s see if the breaks go out way.”

Carter Hutton: I think they have in years past, when you think of Jake Guentzel and Miko Rantanen, but it didn’t work out with either of them. When you look across the Eastern Conference, it’s not like anyone has planted their flag and said “We are the team to beat.”

More than ever, it feels like this is potentially a chance to get into the Eastern Conference Final and make a Stanley Cup Final. I think this will be an active team if they really believe in Bussi, as well. Is he the guy who can win you three-plus playoff series to get you to a Stanley Cup Final? He’s been great, but the lack of what Andersen brings to the table has got to be concerning.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…