In this Summer Coolers edition of NHL Wraparound, hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down the Carolina Hurricanes’ offseason, their consistent regular season success, and the lingering concerns that have prevented them from reaching the Stanley Cup Final—despite three Conference Final appearances in the last seven years.

The Canes finished second in the Metro Division with 99 points in 2024–25 and made quick work of New Jersey and Washington before falling to Florida in five games in the Eastern Conference Final—again.

Neil and Vic analyze the team’s latest acquisitions, including the high-profile signing of Nikolaj Ehlers from Winnipeg, and the trade for K’Andre Miller from the Rangers. They also examine what’s lost with the departures of Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, and Scott Morrow, and how the defense corps now leans heavily on Jacob Slavin, Alexander Nikishin, and Jalen Chatfield.

The episode also features a fascinating side story: Rod Brind’Amour’s son Skyler Brind’Amour and Keith Primeau’s son Caden Primeau are now teammates—23 years after their fathers were traded for each other.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Summer Coolers intro: Carolina Hurricanes outlook

[00:36] 2024–25 season recap: Regular season strong, playoffs stalled

[01:10] Forwards set: Ehlers, Aho, Jarvis, Svechnikov, Blake, Martinook

[02:00] Defense changes: Miller in, Burns, Orlov, and Morrow out

[03:00] K’Andre Miller’s fit and the high cost of acquisition

[03:43] Goaltending concerns: Freddie Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov, Caden Primeau

[05:00] Re-signings and RFA updates: Suzuki, Skyler Brind’Amour, Stan Coven

[06:00] The Brind’Amour–Primeau trade connection, 23 years later

[06:50] Jacob Slavin’s leadership and Shane Gostisbehere’s PP role

[08:00] Are the Hurricanes truly better than last year?

[09:00] Why Carolina dominates the regular season but stalls in May

[10:30] The need for playoff-style hockey to break through

[11:00] Final verdict: Metro favorite—but Cup contender?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Carolina remains one of the NHL’s most consistent regular-season teams, but hasn’t been able to convert that into a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Nikolaj Ehlers’ signing adds another skilled forward, but may not be enough to change the team’s playoff identity.

The defense is in transition, with Burns and Orlov gone and K’Andre Miller’s growth now a key variable.

Goaltending remains a concern, and a major question mark heading into 2025–26.

Carolina must learn to play playoff-style hockey earlier—and more consistently—if they hope to get over the hump.

RESOURCE LINKS:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

2025 NHL Summer Cooler

Episodes