By Adam Gold, 99.9 FM The Fan

The Carolina Hurricanes open up training camp next week as the run-up to the 2024-25 season begins.

Unlike a year ago, when the Canes entered the season as the Las Vegas favorite to win the Stanley Cup (spoiler, it did not go according to Hoyle), Carolina isn’t among the top choices. But, that isn’t to say that it should be all doom and gloom just off the corner of Edwards Mill and Trinity.

The Hurricanes still have star power. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis will each start the season playing on lucrative, 8-year contracts.

They have a repeatable, proven, winning style of play that has seen them make the playoffs for six consecutive seasons, something only accomplished by four other teams in the NHL. Only Boston (8), Toronto (8), Colorado (7) and Tampa Bay (7) have reached the postseason in at least a half dozen years running. That’s right, neither the Rangers, nor the Oilers have reached that level of consistency.

While there has been significant turnover in the roster – stalwart Hurricanes like Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei and Teuvo Teravainen have left the club for long-term contracts elsewhere – much of the core returns. The captain Jordan Staal and his lieutenants Aho and Jaccob Slavin will lead Rod Brind’Amour’s team into the season which opens at the Lenovo Center on Friday, Oct. 11.

Yes, I said Lenovo Center and not PNC Arena. The building has a new name as often happens around the professional sports world. PNC Bank is still around as they’ve put their name on various areas of note inside the arena. I just can’t call the building “The Big ATM” anymore.  Maybe I’ll use “frozen ThinkPad.” Who knows?

As for those four names a couple of sentences back … subscribe to the 99.9 FM The Fan newsletter to check out the Greatest Hurricane of All Time (GHOAT) bracket. All three letter-wearers from this team plus the head coach are represented, as are the likes of Eric Staal, Ron Francis, Erik Cole and Ray Whitney (seeded waaaaaaay too low, if you want my opinion). It’s a great way to whet your appetite for the upcoming season.

Two to watch in the 24-25 season

I could spend a long time talking about so many of the Canes’ star players, specifically Aho and Jarvis.

But I am most interested in watching two players who I believe will have bust-out seasons this year. We hope that Andrei Svechnikov will finally marry offensive production to his overall game impact.  The point totals certainly haven’t been poor, but for all of the positive ways he affects the game, you’d think he’d be roaring towards 40 goals and 80+ points.  That happens this year.  And, we’re going to see a motivated Martin Necas who has two years to prove what he can be.  I think his head is in the right place. He’s going to have more responsibility in all situations, and he’s going to want to show that he’s more than just electric skating and flashes of brilliance.

The preseason opens on Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Tampa before Friday’s home showing with the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. All preseason games will be on 99.9 the Fan and we will have pregame and postgame coverage as well as Canes Corner podcasts throughout. Let’s goooooooo!

Source: wralsportsfan.com