As the 2025-2026 NHL season begins, Hurricanes fans are ecstatic as the team has started its season with five wins. As of Nov. 17, the team is currently second in its division and 4th in the league. The team started their season on Oct. 9 against the New Jersey Devils, winning 6-3.

“We had a really strong start ‘cause we were the last undefeated team in [the] NHL,” said Taylor Douglas, junior.

Athens Drive is filled with many Hurricanes fans, affectionately known as Caniacs; this includes Dan Hrehor, a social studies teacher, and Mike Seguin, a world languages teacher. The two often chat about the Hurricanes over the season, and they keep up with every game. 

“They made some fantastic moves in the offseason because [K’Andre] Miller is a really good young defenseman with a lot of potential, and he’s physical, and we need more of that on our team,” said Seguin. 

The Hurricanes’ general manager, Eric Tulsky, signed several new additions over the summer. This includes forward Nikolaj Ehlers and defensemen K’Andre Miller and Mike Reilly. In addition to signing new players, they re-signed current players on their roster, like Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Eric Robinson. 

“I think the new editions of Nikolaj Ehlers and also K’Andre Miller, … their style of play will fit in well with the Canes,” said Hrehor.

Carolina acquired Miller in a trade with the New York Rangers before signing him to an 8-year contract with an Average Annual Value of $7.5 million. In his first game with the Hurricanes on Oct. 9, he scored two goals and was named first star of the game.

“K’Andre is a defenseman who we feel is a very strong fit for the way we play. He is just approaching his prime, and we are confident that he will excel in a Hurricanes sweater,” said Tulsky in a Hurricanes press release.

Along with Miller, the Hurricanes also added Reilly as a depth piece on defense, a decision that has turned out to be a good one, as the Hurricanes’ defense has been struggling with injuries at the beginning of the season. 

“Reilly, who, since we have so many injuries right now, turned out to be a good choice as well,” said Seguin. 

With the injuries to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jaccob Slavin, Charles Alexis Legault and Jalen Chatfield, the depth of the Canes’ roster will have to be tested. Slavin has been dealing with a lower-body injury, while Legault has an injury to his hand, Chatfield is struggling with an upper-body injury and Kotkaniemi is day-to-day with an ankle injury.

“I think we would have kept the [undefeated] streak if we had Slavin, [Shayne] Gostisbehere, and [William] Carrier not out for injuries,” said Douglas.

They called up Forward Bradly Nadeau when Carrier and Robinson had been struggling with injuries, but he was sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL) after Robinson and Carrier returned to the lineup. Defensemen Gavin Bayreuther, Joel Nystrom and Legault are currently called up from their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. 

“I’d like to see Bradly Nadeau maybe get a crack, and… he might get a chance now that a few of [the] Hurricanes players are injured. So that’s someone I kind of will have an eye on. I think he might be able to help their team with some scoring. He’s got a knack for scoring and just a wicked wrist shot,” said Hrehor.

The team has been majorly impacted by injuries, and if they hope to keep up their regular playoff performances of the past few years, they will likely have to step up their game and make some moves at the trade deadline.

“Now, we have enough money left at the trade deadline, we can still add whatever we need. So I think we’re gonna be, once we heal up from our injuries, I think we’re gonna be a really tough team,” Seguin said. 

Some of the various injuries to the team have impacted a few of the Hurricanes’ most key players, like Slavin. Slavin participated in the Four Nations tournament with USA Hockey last season, and he immediately gained attention from spectators. 

“I always enjoy watching Jaccob Slavin play. He’s one of the best defensemen in the league,” said Hrehor.

With the absence of Slavin, the Hurricanes will have to lean more on Reilly, who scored a shorthanded goal for the club on Oct. 30 against the New York Islanders, along with Alexander Nikishin, who is playing in his first North American Professional season.

“Nikishin, I think he’s got a lot of potential to be one of the… best defensemen in the league, and I think we have probably the best defense in the league, say, if we can get our scoring to be consistent, I think we’re going to be a very good team,” said Seguin.

The biggest issue threatening the Hurricanes’ playoff hopes is the numerous injuries affecting their roster, forcing the team to rely on call-ups and depth pieces instead.  The Hurricanes have been forced to use four rookie defensemen in games this season, which is the most among all NHL teams so far. 

“I’m excited for [the] playoffs this year, especially after we broke the curse last season, to see if we can get even further hopefully!” said Douglas.