It’s approximately 10:30 p.m. outside of PNC arena in Raleigh on May 30, 2022. You can hear the New York fans chanting “Let’s go Rangers!” throughout the parking lot, but the chants are mostly being drowned out by the disappointment and frustration that Hurricanes fans are feeling. 

Last season, the Canes suffered one of the more devastating losses in their franchise history in game seven at home against the Rangers when they lost 6-2. While the disappointment is still there after last year’s loss, Canes fans need to put it behind them as a new hockey season begins this October, The Hurricanes should be back to their winning ways, but this time with a chip on their shoulder. 

The Canes roster will look a bit different from last year with a few key acquisitions and departures this offseason, But the young core of Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis should continue to wow fans in PNC Arena this season.

Key departures this season include Ian Cole, Max Domi, Nino Niederreiter, Steven Lorentz, Tony DeAngelo, Brendan Smith, and Vincent Trocheck. 

The biggest acquisitions this offseason are former All-Stars Max Pacioretty, and Brent Burns along with solid role players Dylan Coughlan, Lane Pederson, Ondrej Kase, and Paul Stastny. 

The Hurricanes are seeming to finally gain some recognition as a top team in the league as they will be given five nationally televised games this season compared to only two from the previous season. 

The Canes will be playing in their first ever Stadium Series game against the Washington Capitals on February 18, 2023, at 8.00 p.m. The game will be played at Carter Finley Stadium which is normally a football stadium for NC State, but will be transformed into a full blown outdoor hockey rink. 

“I can’t wait for the game at Carter Finley. It will be a great experience and it shows that the Canes have a lot more value in the league now,” said junior Jonathan Knott. 

As far as what to expect from the team this season, it should be a similar formula used from the past couple seasons that has allowed for the Canes to be successful: gritty defense/goaltending along with scoring production from the top three lines. 

Losing key players, Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter, added with the injury of talented goal scorer Max Pacioretty, will be sure to hurt the offense. Still, the Canes will be returning their top three scorers from the previous season in Aho, Svechnikov, and Teuvo Teravainan, so they should be able to score enough goals this season to win games.

Also returning is All Star goaltender Freddie Andersen who missed the entire playoffs last season with a torn MCL and arguably one of the best defenseman in the NHL Jacob Slavin. Slavin paired on the first line with recently acquired veteran defenseman Brent Burns will front load what is surely to be one of the best defenses in the NHL.

“If we can stay healthy for most of the season, this team should make the playoffs and go on another deep run,” said Knott.