Carolina Hurricanes: 2023-24 Season Preview

The 2022-23 Carolina Hurricanes had something to prove after failing to advance past the 2nd round the year prior. Early in the season, the team was trying to establish new records. The Canes were nearly unbeatable for over a month, setting new records with a 17-game point streak and the first double-digit win streak in franchise history at 11 games. This strong start would catapult the Canes to the top of the division. In mid-February, the attention moved from the race for the Metropolitan Division to a weekend of festivities. The franchise immortalized its inaugural Hall of Fame class, celebrating Cam Ward as one of the greatest to ever put on a Hurricanes jersey. Two days later, the team would play its first outdoor game as Carter-Finlay Stadium played host to the Stadium Series. The Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals in convincing fashion, 4-1, in front of a packed stadium under the lights. After that, the race was back on. It came down to the season's final game, but the Hurricanes managed to hold off the New Jersey Devils to earn their third straight division crown. Overall, the Canes finished the season with 52 wins, tied for the second-most in team history, and 113 points, second to the 2021-22 team. 

In the postseason, the Hurricanes met the New York Islanders in the 1st round. After winning two one-goal games at home, including an overtime win in Game 2, they hit the road trying to break their road losing streak. In Game 3, New York used four goals in the final five minutes to run away with the game, The Canes responded with a resounding 5-2 victory in Game 4. The Islanders spoiled the party in Game 5, forcing Game 6 back on the island, but the Canes would end the series in Game 6 with Paul Stastny scoring in overtime to finish things. The best of the Metropolitan Division met in the second round, and it wasn't pretty. The first four games were all decided by 4+ goals, with Carolina winning three of the four. Game 5 would be much tighter, but the Canes would get the job done in overtime again. This time, Jesper Fast deflected a shot on the power play to send the Canes to the Eastern Conference Finals. This is where the magic would end. After losing the longest game in franchise history in 4OT in Game 1, the Canes would be swept by the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight time, losing all four games by one goal. 

Notable Performances

• Martin Necas had a breakout season, leading the team in points with 71 points
• Necas also set a new franchise record with 4 overtime goals
• Sebastian Aho led the team in goals with 36, aided by 3 hat tricks, 2nd-most in Canes history
• Offseason addition Brent Burns was phenomenal, recording 61 points
• Andrei Svechnikov was the team's lone All-Star representative, recording 55 points in 64 games before his season-ending injury
• The Canes' defensive group led the league in goals, led by 18 each from Burns and Brady Skjei
• The trio of Andersen, Raanta, and Kochetkov finished 2nd in the league in goals allowed
• The Canes led the league in shutouts (9), with 4 each from Raanta and Kochetkov
• Aho became the franchise's all-time leader in postseason goals, surpassing Eric Staal
• Jordan Martinook tied the franchise record for points in a postseason series (10) in the 2nd round

The New Guys

Dmitry Orlov (LD, 32, 7-29-36 in 66 games with Washington/Boston)

It didn't feel like the Canes needed help on defense after they performed so well last season. Still, the team made a huge splash by signing the player thought to be the best free agent on the market. Fitting the theme of free agency, the deal was only for two years, though it made him the team's highest-paid defenseman. Orlov was highly sought after at the trade deadline, making his way to Boston from Washington in March. He immediately made an impact for the Bruins, recording 17 points in 23 games and adding eight points in their 1st round loss to Florida. 

Michael Bunting (LW, 28, 23-26-49 in 82 games with Toronto)

The big addition to the forward group has spent the last two years playing with some of the best playmakers in the NHL. A bit of a late bloomer, Bunting finished 3rd in Calder voting two seasons ago, leading all rookies with 63 points. He recorded 23 goals in each season with the Maple Leafs. Along with his offensive prowess, Bunting will add some sandpaper to the group. With Rod Brind'Amour running the show, he'll need to find a balance because missing three games in the postseason with a suspension won't fly in Raleigh. 

Tony DeAngelo (RD, 28, 11-31-42 in 70 games with Philadelphia)

While I wouldn't necessarily classify him as "new," he wasn't a Hurricane last season, so he fits the bill. This will be DeAngelo's second stint with the Canes, joining the team during free agency in 2021. He was very good, recording 51 points for the team before being traded to the Flyers last offseason. DeAngelo produced for John Tortorella, but there was a clash of personalities between the two, making him fall out of favor with his coach. The Canes tried to trade for him before free agency started, but the league stepped in due to CBA issues. 

Brendan Lemieux (LW/RW, 27, 2-7-9 in 45 games with Los Angeles/Philadelphia)

Likely to see time on the fourth line, Lemieux is another player with a lot of grit that will cause problems if he needs to. He has a checkered past, suspended three times during his six seasons in the NHL. His most recent suspension was for biting Brady Tkachuk in 2021. Like Orlov, he was traded at the trade deadline, going from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. You aren't signing Lemieux because he'll put up a lot of points. He will aggravate the opponents, going in and out of the lineup.  

Caleb Jones (LD, 26, 4-12-16 in 73 games with Chicago)

A quiet addition made later in the offseason, Jones will add depth to an already-loaded defensive group. Spending the last two seasons with his brother in Chicago, he got some great experience after being used sparingly during three seasons in Edmonton. He never had to be a big point producer, though he had 15+ points in both seasons in Chicago. I'm not sure how much time he'll see since he's the 8th-best defender on the roster, but he'll be good enough to step in if someone gets hurt. 

The Hurricanes also have six players signed to PTOs going into training camp: Nick Shore, Nathan Beaulieu, Brendan Perlini, Kieffer Bellows, Jayden Halbgewachs, and Cory Conacher.

My Opening Night Roster

Michael Bunting-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis

Andrei Svechnikov-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Martin Necas

Teuvo Teravainen-Jordan Staal-Jesper Fast

Jordan Martinook-Jack Drury-Stefan Noesen

Brent Burns-Jacob Slavin

Dmitry Orlov-Brett Pesce

Brady Skjei-Tony DeAngelo

Frederik Andersen

Antti Raanta

Extras

Brendan Lemieux

Jalen Chatfield

Caleb Jones

Some of this lineup will be contingent on Svechnikov's status as he recovers from his ACL injury. He's been skating for a few months, so I'm confident he'll be ready for Opening Night. Along with an abundance of defensemen, the Canes have a lot of excellent wingers. In fact, they have so many that could be playing in the top six and will be lower on the depth chart. The Staal line with Fast and Martinook was the team's most consistent last season, so keeping them together would make plenty of sense. 

Defensively, the Canes have a problem most teams wish they had. They have six defensemen that could be in the top four of almost any team in the league. The biggest question is, who does the team pair with Orlov? He's making too much money to play third-pair minutes, but I wouldn't split Burns and Slavin. Playing Orlov with Pesce makes the most sense to me. The team will be running in the net with the same goalies they have for the last two seasons. Andersen should be in the crease on Opening Night. 

Season Predictions

1. Sebastian Aho will pass Kevin Dineen for the 3rd-most points in Whalers/Hurricanes history

Entering the season, Aho has 468 points in his career. He's 32 points away from reaching 500 and needs six points to pass his head coach for the most in Hurricanes history. I'm reaching for a more ambitious goal, though it should be attainable for Aho if he stays healthy this season. If Aho hits 77 points this season, he'll officially pass Dineen. This would put him behind Ron Francis and Eric Staal. I see no reason Aho can't hit this mark as a point-per-game player in his career. 

2. Five players will hit 60+ points this season

The Canes have earned a reputation for spreading wealth across the entire team. Having this many players reach 60 points is unheard of for the franchise. Why not do it now? Aho and Svechnikov are the two obvious choices to reach the mark, and Necas has proven he can do it. I have high hopes for Bunting this season, and I think he could hit it under the right circumstances. The fifth player could be a defenseman after Burns did it last season. I'd like to see Kotkaniemi reach 60 points to silence some of his doubters. 

3. Andrei Svechnikov will score 40 goals this season

It has been nearly 15 years since a Carolina Hurricane hit 40 goals, with Eric Staal last doing it in 2008-09. Sebastian Aho has come close to reaching 40 and likely would have if COVID didn't shorten the 2019-20 season. Svechnikov has one 30-goal season and may have hit it last season if not for a long drought and a season-ending injury. This season, the Canes' sniper becomes the third player in team history to score 40 goals in a season. 

4. Martin Necas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi will score the first hat tricks of their career

I doubt we will see another outbreak of hat tricks like last season after tying for the league lead with eight. Jarvis was the only player on the team to record their first hat trick last season. This season, Necas and Kotkaniemi join the club. I can't say when it will happen, but I'm confident it will happen at some point. 

5. The Canes will finish in the Top 10 in goals scored and goals allowed

The Canes have a reputation for being one of the stingiest defenses in the league. Having them finish in the top ten in the league isn't a stretch. This prediction is more focused on the offense. Under Rod Brind'Amour, the offense has consistently been in the top half of the league, even reaching the top ten twice. However, they've been known to suffer from cold spells that last a few games. This season, I want to see this team scoring in bunches consistently. They'll become one of the best offensive teams in the country, becoming a nightmare in all three zones for every team. 

6. The power play will finish in the top 12 in the league

Another sore spot for the team last season was the power play. While it showed flashes at times last season, the power play was largely disappointing, finishing 20th in the league. To correlate with the offensive explosions I'm expecting, that would also mean the power play picks it up. The top ten felt slightly ambitious, so I'm going with the top 12. To take it a step further, I predict Svechnikov to be the team's leader in PPGs this season. 

7. Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta will combine for the 2nd Jennings in 3 seasons

This is the 3rd season the Canes will be rolling with Andersen and Raanta between the pipes. In 2021-22, the duo won the 1st Jennings Trophy in franchise history. Last season, with help from Kochetkov, they finished in 2nd behind Boston. The defense will help lead the charge this season to ensure they win it again. The Canes duo will continue to show they are solid together. 

8. Jordan Staal will be a finalist for the Selke

With Patrice Bergeron's retirement, the Selke Trophy race will be wide open. Staal finished 4th in Selke voting last season, earning one 1st place vote. It was his best finish in voting since finishing in 3rd with the Penguins in 2009-10. I'm not guaranteeing that he will win the award, but I think he will be in the room on the night they announce the winner. His lack of offensive production will make him less attractive to those who believe offense should also be considered. 

9. The Carolina Hurricanes will win their 4th straight division crown

The last two seasons in the Metropolitan Division have come down to the wire. Two years ago, the Canes used a late-season win over the Rangers to clinch the crown with a few games left. Last season, the Canes won the division in their final game to beat the Devils. The Devils will be the Canes' biggest adversary in the division this season, and many think they'll surpass the Canes for first place. I don't think that will happen as the Canes continue to wear the crown. 

10. The Carolina Hurricanes will win the 2024 Stanley Cup

I've been reluctant to name the Canes as my Stanley Cup champions in the past. I'm not going to be as shy this time. As close as they've been to the top of the mountain, the Canes have to reach the summit soon before they gain a reputation for being unable to get the job done. This is arguably the best defensive core in the league, one of the stronger forward groups, and a goaltending duo that has been the picture of consistency. The Canes have all of the tools to win the Stanley Cup. That's why I think they'll do it this season.