Carolina Hurricanes Preseason Kickoff
On Monday evening, the Carolina Hurricanes are set to kick off their preseason with a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Lenovo Center, starting at 7 p.m. Fans should prepare for a roster primarily filled with young talent and a handful of players on professional tryouts (PTOs).
Focus on Young Talent
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour indicated during training camp that the focus will be on evaluating minor league players as he plans to give them ample ice time.
“I’ve got almost all the minor league guys or guys trying to get up there playing two or three games,”
Brind’Amour stated.
Roster Composition
The team has a considerable training camp roster, featuring 42 skaters and six goaltenders, but they will only require 18 skaters and two goalies for this opening match. Under NHL regulations, a minimum of eight ‘veteran’ players must be included in each preseason game. A veteran is defined as a player who has participated in at least 30 NHL games the previous season, a goalie with at least 50 games under their belt, or any player who has reached 100 career NHL games, excluding first-round picks from the current year—an avenue the Hurricanes did not explore this draft season.
Veteran Candidates
Fortunately for the Hurricanes, several candidates fulfill the veteran criteria, including all three PTOs—Givani Smith, Kevin Labanc, and Oliver Kylington—as well as depth defensemen Mike Reilly and Gavin Bayreuther. This immediately accounts for five veteran players. Additionally, one of the two established goaltenders, Frederik Andersen or Pyotr Kochetkov, can back up a younger keeper like Cayden Primeau, raising the total of veterans to six.
Regular Players Joining the Mix
Despite the focus on younger prospects, a few of the regular players will also join the mix. Rising star Alexander Nikishin is expected to see additional game time as part of this preseason lineup, with Brind’Amour categorizing him among the team’s promising young players. These initial games offer a chance for the Hurricanes to assess their lineup before the regular season kicks off.
