The Carolina Hurricanes are back on the ice, and their preseason opens in Sunrise against a Florida Panthers group that figures to lean much more veteran than the one Carolina is bringing.
For the first time in more than three months, the Canes are playing hockey again, even if the setting and the stakes are a far cry from that night in Las Vegas. This one is the first step in a shortened preseason, and it comes against a Panthers team the Hurricanes clearly know well. Florida will be back in Raleigh in just over a week to open the regular season against Carolina.
The Hurricanes’ roster for the opener is younger overall, but it still includes enough NHL experience to satisfy preseason requirements. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Mike Reilly, and Pyotr Kochetkov are the only three players in the lineup whose names are on the Stanley Cup, though they are not the only holdovers from last season’s group.
Florida has not yet announced its roster for Sunday morning, but Paul Maurice said after Saturday’s practice that both preseason games against Carolina - including Tuesday’s rematch in Raleigh - will feature “veteran-heavy” lineups. The full picture of who the Panthers dress should come into focus closer to puck drop.
There are several Hurricanes worth watching, starting with Kotkaniemi. Once thought to be a likely offseason departure, he is still here and has reportedly looked strong early in camp.
That gives him a chance to make a case for the Opening Night lineup next Tuesday, while also potentially boosting his trade value. Against Florida, he is expected to handle top-line center duties.
Bradly Nadeau is another name to keep an eye on. He is chasing an Opening Night roster spot, so every preseason shift matters, and this one could be a rough introduction if the Panthers really do load up on veterans. With Florida’s lineup expected to bring plenty of experience, Nadeau may find himself under heavy pressure all night.
Juha Jaaska’s return adds another layer to the night. He missed the entire 2025-26 season with a lower-body injury, and this will be his first game in almost 17 months.
Before the injury, he had a strong run with Chicago in ’24-’25 and also saw NHL action, recording four assists in 18 games. Just getting him back into a game is a notable moment for Carolina.
Juuso Valimaki is also in the mix on defense, where the battle for the sixth spot is crowded. Most of the names competing for that job are on the roster tonight, and Valimaki remains a quieter one in that conversation. He is a left-shot defenseman, even though the opening spot is on the right side, and that appears to be a non-issue for the coaching staff.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed free on the team’s website.
In Other News...
Carolinas Alexander Nikishin Standoff Just Put The Hurricanes In A Bind
Alexander Nikishins situation has quietly turned into one of the more awkward early storylines around Carolinas training camp. The restricted free agent defenseman is still waiting on a contract resolution, and the Hurricanes have already made it clear they are not going to keep talking publicly about it. For a team that has invested in adding blue-line talent, the hold-up is a reminder that not every roster issue gets settled neatly by the calendar.
Nikishins leverage is limited by his NHL service time, which leaves Carolina in control of his rights even as the standoff lingers. The tension now is less about whether the Hurricanes can force the issue and more about how long both sides are willing to wait before something finally gives. For the moment, the team appears content to be patient, but the longer this drags on, the more it hangs over a group trying to get its camp into a normal rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Bradly Nadeau Is Bringing A Different Edge Into Hurricanes Camp
Bradly Nadeau heads into Hurricanes camp next year with a much different feel around his game than when he first started pushing for a bigger role. After splitting last season between Carolina and Chicago, he already has a taste of both levels, including three goals in 12 NHL games and a productive stretch with the Wolves that helped carry them deep into the spring.
Nadeau also comes in with some valuable playoff mileage and a clearer sense of what the pro game demands, especially after spending time under coaches who helped shape his approach. The next step is turning those lessons into a more consistent impact at the NHL level, where the margin for young scorers gets thinner and every shift asks for a little more detail. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Still Face One Crucial Roster Question After Latest Deal
The Hurricanes have already taken one major step toward stabilizing their roster by keeping captain Jordan Staal in place on a one-year contract extension, a move that helps preserve a familiar voice in the room as the club heads into another important stretch of team-building. Even with that settled, general manager Eric Tulsky made it clear the work is not finished, saying discussions are ongoing with other pending unrestricted free agents as Carolina continues sorting out its next round of decisions.
What makes the picture more interesting is that the roster puzzle is not just about who stays, but who can handle new responsibilities if the lineup shifts. Seth Jarviss expected absence leaves an opening up front, and Bradly Nadeau is one candidate who could be asked to step into a top-six role. Elsewhere, prospect William Hakansson has been loaned to Sodertalje in Swedens Allsvenskan for more playing time, a reminder that the Hurricanes are trying to manage both the present roster and the longer development track at the same time. [Read more 🡒]