Carolina Hurricanes News

In their first game of the season, the Hurricanes were defeated 4-1 by the Tampa Bay Lightning with Frederik Andersen in net. The Hurricanes will likely turn to Kochetkov for game two on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has seen his NHL workload increase in his first three seasons, highlighted by a stellar 2.33 GAA and .911 SV% in 42 appearances last season (23-13-4). The Hurricanes enter the action on Tuesday as -161 home favorites against a Devils club that defeated Utah HC yesterday afternoon.

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour was noncommittal about who would be manning Carolina's crease for their season opener on Friday, but it's no surprise to see Andersen get the call. Though he was limited by injuries last season, Andersen was spectacular when he was available. The 35-year-old netminder posted a .932 SV% and a 1.84 GAA to go along with a 13-2-0 record across 16 appearances. Andersen and the Hurricanes enter Friday night as -150 favourites over the Lightning.

Carolina and Jarvis may have changed the NHL free agent game forever on Friday after they signed an eight-year deal worth $63.2 million ($7.9M AAV) that is much lower than average annual salaries because Jarvis was willing to defer salary. The 22-year-old center was Carolina's 2020 1st-round pick (13th overall) and broke out in 2023-24 finishing second on the Hurricanes' in points with 33 goals, 67 points 176 SOG and a +23 plus/minus through 81 games played.

Carolina was hit with some unfortunate off-season news after forward Jesper Fast was announced out for the entire 2024-25 season after undergoing neck surgery last week. The 32-year-old right-winger was entering his fifth season in Carolina and had six goals and 19 points in 73 games played while occupying Carolina's bottom six in 2023-24.

Badinka was a second-round pick (No.34 overall) in this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old blueliner played for Malmo (SHL) during the 2024 season, posting four points (1G / 3A) and a minus-9 rating in 33 games.

Slavin was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2018 and was with the team until 2023 before getting traded to Anaheim. Most recently, he appeared in 70 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), picking up 10 goals and 14 assists (24 points). Now he joins his brother (Jaccob) in the Hurricanes organization, where he'll likely start the 2024-25 season in the AHL.

The Hurricanes made up for their lost pieces on Monday by signing Sean Walker to a five-year deal worth $18.0 million ($3.6M AAV). The 29-year-old was acquired by Colorado at the trade deadline in 2023-24 and had 10 goals, 29 points, 50 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 81 games with the Flyers and Avalanche last season.

Gostisbehere will return to Carolina after one very successful season in Detroit after he signed a three-year contract worth $9.6 million ($3.2M AAV). The 31-year-old completed his 10th NHL season in 2023-24 and had 10 goals and 56 points in 81 games played.

Reilly will remain with the Islanders after a successful first campaign with New York in 2023-24 and has earned himself a one-year deal worth $1.25 million. The 30-year-old was claimed off waivers from Florida early on during the 2023-24 season but bounced back positively by picking up six goals, 24 points and 28 PIMs in 59 games with New York.

Carrier has spent the last seven seasons with Vegas but will pack his bags as he heads to Carolina on a six-year, $12.0 million ($2.0M AAV) deal. The 29-year-old had a down and injury-filled season in 2023-24, with only six goals and eight points in 39 games played.

Carolina will keep one of its most important defensive pieces around long term as they have signed Jaccob Slavin to an eight-year contract extension worth $51.69 million ($6.46M AAV). The 30-year-old defenseman just completed his ninth season with Carolina (665 GP) and had six goals, 37 points and a +21 plus/minus in 81 games played in 2023-24.

Fan favourite Jordan Martinook will remain in Carolina after the Hurricanes signed the 10-year veteran to a three-year extension worth $9.15 million ($3.05M AAV). The 31-year-old Hurricanes' assistant captain surpassed the 30+ point plateau for a second straight season in 2023-24 as he ended the campaign with 14 goals and 32 points in 82 games played.

Robinson spent 2023-24 between Columbus and Buffalo but has signed a one-year deal to join Carolina worth $950,000. The 29-year-old role-player never really settled into Buffalo during his brief tenure as he had two goals and nine points in 40 games after joining the Sabres early in the season.

Bussi finished his third professional season at 23-10-5 with a 2.67 GAA, .913 SV% and one shutout in 41 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL). Bussi figured to become Jeremy Swayman's backup next season following the Linus Ullmark trade, but with Joonas Korpisalo coming the other way, he may have to continue waiting. The two-way contract will allow the Bruins to have that flexibility.

Carolina added to its defensive depth over the weekend as they signed 24-year-old offensive defenseman Ty Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. The puck-moving defenseman has 47 points in 123 career NHL games played but last appeared in the NHL with Pittsburgh all the way back in 2022-23. He spent all of 2023-24 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) and had nine goals and 43 points in 63 games played.

Carolina has solidified their top-four defensemen heading into the 2024-25 season after they resigned Jalen Chatfield to a three-year, $9 million contract extension ($3,000,000 AAV) on Friday. The 28-year-old shutdown defensemen hit career highs in multiple categories in 2023-24, including goals (8), assists (14), points (22) and average TOI/GP (15:11) in 72 games this season.

Suzuki had 14 goals and 30 points with Springfield (AHL) in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Carolina on Wednesday. The 23-year-old was the Hurricanes' 2019 first-round pick (28th overall) but has yet to make his NHL debut after four AHL seasons.

Andersen stopped 21 of 22 shots (.952 SV%) as he held Carolina off from elimination for a second-straight victory in Game 5 and is unsurprisingly expected to start Game 6 on Thursday. The 34-year-old has had an up-and-down playoff after being nearly unbeatable in his 16 regular season appearances with his 6-3-0 record, 2.46 GAA and .902 SV% in 9 starts so far. He will attempt to fend off New York for a third-straight elimination game as Carolin hosts the Rangers for Game 6 in Raleigh on Thursday.

Andersen stopped 21 of 22 shots (.952 SV%) as he held Carolina off from elimination for a second-straight victory in Game 5 and is unsurprisingly expected to start Game 6 on Thursday. The 34-year-old has had an up-and-down playoff after being nearly unbeatable in his 16 regular season appearances with his 6-3-0 record, 2.46 GAA and .902 SV% in 9 starts so far. He will attempt to fend off New York for a third-straight elimination game as Carolin hosts the Rangers for Game 6 in Raleigh on Thursday.