The Hurricanes are coming off their second straight 110+ point season and reached the conference finals, following a first round victory the year before.
Objective: Stanley Cup
Such a surge often means losses to comply with the salary cap, but carefully managed Carolina was able to afford additions during the offseason.
Dmitry Orlov, one of the most coveted free agents, consolidates an already strong defense. Controversial offensive defenseman Tony DeAngelo returns to a team he had great success with two years ago for a modest $1.6 million, a $3.4 million pay cut from his contract precedent in Philadelphia.
The CEO also managed to keep his two excellent goalkeepers, Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, for a total sum of less than 5 million. A feat.
The Hurricanes may have the best top 6 of the League with Orlov, Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei and DeAngelo.
The arrival of Michael Bunting, 23 goals last year in Toronto, could push Teuvo Teravainen back into the third line and give him more offensive punch with Jordan Staal.
The Hurricanes are well-endowed at center with Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who is coming off his best season at age 22 with 43 points, including 18 goals. They are well served by wingers Andrei Svechnikov, recovered from his injury, Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis.
This team should be considered one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
The underrated player
Defenseman Brett Pesce had 30 points last year while playing over 22 minutes per game. Will the Hurricanes be able to keep him at the end of the season due to his possible unrestricted free agent status?
The rookie to follow
Defenseman Alexander Nikishin, a third-round pick in 2020, had a 55-point season in 65 games at 21 in St. Petersburg in the KHL. But the Hurricanes will have to wait another year or two…
Who will have to give more
Undermined by injuries, Teuvo Teravainen, 65 points the previous season, obtained only 37, including 12 goals, in 68 games last year.
Sheet in 2022-2023
52-21-9, 113 points
Seasonal ranking
1ers of division
Series course
Association final (defeat against the Panthers)
Main departures
Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, Max Pacioretty, Shayne Gostisbehere, Calvin de Haan
Main arrivals
Dmitry Orlov, Michael Bunting, Tony DeAngelo, Caleb Jones