Shayne Gostisbehere has spent two seasons putting himself in the middle of the Hurricanes’ conversation when it comes to offensive defensemen. That’s no small thing in Carolina, where Justin Faulk set the standard for years, Dougie Hamilton put up big numbers of his own, and Brent Burns still owns the franchise mark for points by a defenseman in a single season.
Gostisbehere’s first full year in Raleigh only strengthened that case, even if injuries kept him from cashing in on what looked like a bigger number. He finished with 45 points in 2024-25, the sixth-most by a Hurricanes defenseman since relocation, but there was still another level there. Burns’ 61-point season was in sight.
The start of the year made that feel possible in a hurry. Gostisbehere piled up seven points in the first four games and looked ready to drive the offense all season.
Then came the injury hit. He left the game in Los Angeles in the first period, sat out three games, returned against Vegas, and exited that one too before missing another six.
Later, he also missed a nine-game stretch in March.
Even with all that lost time, he still finished with 50 points in just 55 games. That was the third-most by a defenseman since 1997, and his 0.91 points per game ranked ninth among NHL defensemen, a 75-point pace over a full season. He also went scoreless in back-to-back games only four times and matched the team record for multi-point games by a defenseman with 12.
His playoff run followed a different script. Through Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he had only two assists, both of them coming in Game 3 against the Flyers.
Then he scored his first goal of the postseason in Game 3 in Montreal, and the production took off. He posted four points in the final three games of that series, then stayed hot against Vegas.
By the time the Stanley Cup Final ended, Gostisbehere had six points against the Golden Knights and 12 points overall in the postseason. That moved him into second place in franchise history for points in a single playoff run by a defenseman, behind only Frantisek Kaberle’s 13 in 2006. And he did it with six more games still available.
The injury interruptions are what kept him from a bigger regular season, but the path to a huge one is still there. Gostisbehere quarterbacks the top power play, and that matters.
Last season, 18 of his 50 points came on the man advantage, while the Hurricanes’ power play ranked fourth in the league. For comparison, when Burns put up 61 points in 2022-23, 23 of them came on the power play.
That’s why a healthy year would put him right back in striking distance of team history. He’s one of two defensemen on the roster with an expiring deal, and his next contract is almost certainly going to be above the $3.2 million he’s making this season.
Whether Carolina is the team that pays it remains to be seen, though the Alexander Nikishin situation could factor in. A cleaner, healthier season would go a long way toward settling that conversation.
In Other News...
Former Penguins Defenseman Lands With A Rival Contender
The Hurricanes added another experienced blue-line option by signing Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year contract, bringing in a defenseman who has already bounced around the league and knows what it looks like to fight for a regular NHL role. The 27-year-old has spent time with the Penguins, Canucks and Blues since being drafted by Arizona in 2017, and his background includes plenty of seasoning between the NHL and AHL.
For Carolina, the appeal is obvious enough: Joseph gives the club another defenseman with mobility, upside and recent game experience, even if his path has been anything but straightforward. His rsum also carries a little extra familiarity with the division, which matters for a Hurricanes team constantly measuring itself against the leagues tougher contenders and trying to keep its depth intact for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Turned To A Familiar Face For A Rare Goalie Role
The Hurricanes have found a familiar solution for a very unusual job, turning longtime equipment manager Jorge Alves into the organizations emergency backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season. Alves has been part of the teams fabric for years, and the move gives Carolina a safety net in net under a special league exception while also acknowledging how deeply he is tied into the day-to-day life of the club.
Rod BrindAmour made clear how much Alves means around the Hurricanes, pointing to the value he brings both on and off the ice. It is a rare role for anyone, let alone someone whose place in the organization has traditionally been behind the scenes, and it adds another odd footnote to a career already marked by a brief NHL appearance years ago. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Added To A Defensive Question Fans Are Watching
The Hurricanes added another name to their blue-line mix by signing defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year deal ahead of the 2026-27 season. The 27-year-old has already made the rounds in the NHL, with stops in Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Vancouver after being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2017, and Carolina is taking a low-risk look at a player who has spent the early part of his career trying to carve out a lasting role.
What makes the move worth watching is less the signing itself than the fine print around it. Carolina has not said whether the contract is one-way or two-way, which leaves a real question about how the team views Josephs place in the organization and whether he is being brought in as depth, competition or something a little more substantial. [Read more 🡒]