RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes enter the season as defending Stanley Cup champions chasing history, trying to become the fourth team in the past decade to win consecutive titles after the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers accomplished the feat. Essentially bringing back the same group, Carolina is positioned to compete for top spot in the Metropolitan Division and set up another deep playoff run under general manager Eric Tulsky.
Tulsky locked up goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to a two-year contract extension last week, giving Carolina its tandem of Kochetkov and Brandon Bussi signed through the 2028-29 campaign. The term provides security without long-term risk, and with $8.4 million in cap space, Tulsky has flexibility to adapt when problems surface. The Hurricanes were relatively fortunate with injuries last season, and that cushion allows him to pursue a high-quality replacement if luck turns.
Goaltending depth remains a question after Carolina cut ties with veteran Frederik Andersen. Andersen buckled near the end of the Hurricanes' Cup run and was replaced as the starter by Bussi, a move that explains Tulsky's change in direction. The tandem is set, but there is a potential hole if Kochetkov or Bussi is sidelined during the season.
The other pressing business is RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin. The 24-year-old posted 22 assists and 33 points in 81 games while averaging 18:11 of ice time in the regular season, but his usage dropped dramatically in the playoffs. He played under 12 minutes in two of the last three Final games as head coach Rod Brind'Amour leaned on veterans when games mattered most, a factor likely behind Nikishin's trade request. Interest in his services should be strong, but Tulsky holds leverage and is under no real pressure to yield.
With Brind'Amour — a perennial Jack Adams Award candidate — behind the bench, Carolina remains as fast and slick as any team in the league. The Metropolitan Division is expected to be more competitive, and while the Hurricanes are still a heavy favorite to do serious playoff damage, they may not be as dominant as last season. Like every back-to-back winner before them, they will need health, puck luck and alignment to make a repeat possible.