As the Carolina Hurricanes’ preseason nears an end, NHL roster decisions loom
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hurricanes near final roster with few open spots left before Oct. 9 opener.
- Bradly Nadeau leads offense with two goals in win over Nashville Predators.
- Tryout players like Kevin Labanc and Givani Smith make final push for roster.
It’s the time of the NHL preseason when the players are tiring of exhibition games and camp practices and management faces some tough personnel decisions.
The Carolina Hurricanes have reached that point with the games and practices. They played their last home preseason game Sunday and picked up their first preseason win, beating the Nashville Predators 4-2 at the Lenovo Center.
Bradly Nadeau had a pair of goals for the Canes, and Felix Unger Sorum and Charles Alexis Legault each scored to back up a solid goaltending effort from Cayden Primeau. Nadeau’s first goal came on a power-play strike in the second period and he added the second goal late in the third for a 3-1 lead before Legault sealed it.
As for personnel decisions, the Canes have few to make with their NHL roster.
“Our team was kind of picked from day one,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Sunday morning. “There’s not a lot of openings. There’s still a couple of games for guys to make a case, and we’ll figure it out after that.”
In truth, the Canes’ roster was pretty much locked in when preseason camp began. There were hopefuls in camp trying to turn some heads with their effort and play, including forwards Givani Smith and Kevin Labanc, who both came in on a professional tryout (PTO) basis and have drawn attention with their at times feisty play.
“It’s a showcase,” said Labanc, who has been in all four preseason games. “You’re out there giving it your all and you’re trying to be the player of the game and trying to play the system. They made the conference final last year, and you just want to be that extra depth and get over that hump.”
Smith has dropped the gloves a couple of times to mix it up on the ice. The 6-foot-2 214-pound forward played games with the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche last season and has 168 games of NHL experience.
“He’s doing his job,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s what you want to do with a guy like that. Making a case, right?”
A year ago, winger Jackson Blake came to camp and claimed a roster spot, then went on to such a promising rookie season that earned him a long-term contract extension. Nadeau hoped to do the same, but spent the 2024-25 season with the Chicago Wolves, scoring a team-high 32 goals.
Nadeau has returned this year has had a productive fall camp. He had a goal and assist Friday in the Canes’ 6-5 loss at Tampa Bay. Given a chance Sunday to play on a line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, he produced.
“The more I get out there the more comfortable I feel,” said Nadeau, who also has played the four preseason games. “Obviously to play on a line with good players like that helped. I came in here and wanted to work hard and kind of play my game and I think I’ve so. I want to give it all I’ve got and see where things go from there.”
The Hurricanes made their first roster cutdown Sunday, assigning goaltenders Amir Miftakhov and Ruslan Khazheyev to the Wolves. More moves will follow after the Canes’ preseason game Monday at the Florida Panthers.
A number of players continue to miss preseason games. Defensemen Jaccob Slavin, Jalen Chatfield and K’Andre Miller have not played, and Slavin and Chatfield have missed a chunk of practice time. Miller has practiced in a yellow, no-contact jersey.
Brind’Amour said he hoped to get them into at least one preseason game before the Oct. 9 opener against the New Jersey Devils, adding, “If they can’t, they can’t. That’s kind of the cards you’re dealt, and we’ll address that when it gets to that point.
“They’ve got another week of training camp and another game way out there. Hopefully we’ll have a better view of everything by that game.”
The Canes close out their six-game preseason schedule with an Oct. 4 game at Nashville that will be more or less a dress rehearsal for opening night. Until then will be more practices, although with what should soon be a much smaller camp roster.
“This is when it gets tough because the guys are just trying to get through it and not get injured,” Brind’Amour said. ”It’s not about getting guys in shape. Timing, yes. You’d like to have more reps with certain guys, but you have to weigh is it worth it.”
Labanc, who was with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, was active in the offensive zone. He also dropped the gloves to trade punches with the Preds’ Oasiz Wiesblatt in the third period.
“That’s what you would expect,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “These guys (on PTOs) come in here without security and they’re trying to prove themselves.”
The Stankoven line stayed in attack mode most of the game against the Preds, creating numerous scoring chances against a Preds lineup with a lot of young faces.
“With NHL guys it should look like that, and (Nadeau) didn’t look out of place,” Brind’Amour said.
Among the Canes regulars, captain Jordan Staal centered Jordan Martinook and William Carrier — the first preseason games for Staal and Martinook. Defenseman Sean Walker also played his first preseason exhibition.
