The ‘24-25 NHL season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting ones ever, especially with the Four Nations Face-Off and its popularity. Out of the 32 teams in the NHL, one stands out to many Apex High School students here. The Carolina Hurricanes! 

Clad in red and black, they’re one of the most competitive teams in the league, sitting at second in the Metropolitan division (behind the Washington Capitals). In fact, they were 2nd in betting for the initial Stanley Cup odds. This team is certainly capable of winning the Stanley Cup, and I’m going to tell you why. 

Any good hockey player, fan, owner, or coach understands the value of the defence in hockey, and any capable NHL team will need a fierce one to achieve such a feat like winning the Stanley Cup. In the case of the Carolina Hurricanes, two main players of the defence seem to stand out. Firstly, Jacob Slavin, the defenceman who was drafted to the Hurricanes and has spent 10 seasons with them. In his career, Slavin has blocked nearly 2000 shots! The other defenceman on the first line of the Hurricanes is Brent Burns, a veteran who is arguably one of if not the best defenceman in the league. Currently, he is the only active defenceman to record over 900 points, and he and Slavin are a staple of this outstanding defence. 

If we want to continue to discuss the possibility of such postseason success, we ought to acknowledge the competition. As aforementioned, the Hurricanes are #2 in the Metropolitan divisions, but they have proven their ability to play against high-level teams, like the Capital who lead the Metropolitan. The Hurricanes are 1-1 against the Capitals, and in the case of other contenders they have won matches against the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and more. If they want to win the Stanley Cup, they’ll need more than just some wins and a great defence, though.

On January 5th, the Hurricanes acquired Left Wing Taylor Hall and veteran Right Wing Mikko Rantanen in exchange for forward Martin Necas. While Taylor Hall has regressed recently, he is a bonus nonetheless and is a player people should not scoff at at all. Mikko Rantanen was the main acquisition of the three way trade that occurred, where in only 7 games with the Hurricanes he has recorded a goal with 2 assists. While that may not seem like much, he also got a goal in the Four Nations Face-Off which would help lead his home country of Finland to a 4-3 victory over Sweden. With a new Left Wing and Right Wing, the Hurricanes, who were already the 6th best scoring team in the NHL, will only start to improve.

It’s important to notice that the world of sports is always changing, but the Carolina Hurricanes have a shot at this year’s Stanley Cup, and you’d best believe it too.