How many points will Sebastian Aho score this season? Could Seth Jarvis crack the 75-point barrier? Will Alexander Nikishin partner with Jacob Slavin on the top defensive pair? The stormTRacker crew tackles these questions and more as they project the Carolina Hurricanes' opening night lineup and forecast point totals for every player on the roster.

With General Manager, Eric Tulsky, suggesting the current roster will likely remain intact heading into the 2025-26 season, we dive deep into potential line combinations and defensive pairings. Our analysis reveals some surprising deployments, including Jackson Blake potentially joining Aho and newly-acquired Nikolaj Ehlers on the top line, while Seth Jarvis could bring defensive stability alongside Andrei Svechnikov and Jesperi Kotkaniemi on the second line.

Highlights:
• Jackson Blake could start on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers, utilizing his net-front presence with their playmaking abilities
• Alexander Nikishin may earn top-pairing minutes with Jaccob Slavin rather than being sheltered as many expect
• Seth Jarvis and Nikolaj Ehlers could both reach 75+ points if the power play improves from last season's struggles
• Jesperi Kotkaniemi faces a make-or-break season as the projected second-line center, with potential for 45-59 points
• Sebastian Aho could break the 90-point barrier with improved deployment and chemistry with Nikolaj Ehlers
• The Hurricanes need more 30+ goal scorers beyond Seth Jarvis to elevate their offensive production
• Taylor Hall brings offensive upside whether deployed in the top-six or on the fourth line with Logan Stankoven
• Team scoring shows the Hurricanes' identity as a "score by committee" squad rather than relying on a few superstars

Check out our social media for an interactive tier list where you can create your own player point projections and share them with us! We'd love to see your predictions for the upcoming season.

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Carolina's scouting department pulled off a remarkable feat at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles. What seemed like a quiet draft with just six picks—including a late first-rounder and no second-round selection—transformed into a potential goldmine as GM, Eric Tulsky, orchestrated multiple trades to acquire three second-round picks and a high third-rounder.

Nick Bass, from Canes Prospects & Dobber Prospects, joined me to breakdown the draft for the Hurricanes & discuss highlights from the Canes' Development Camp that followed shortly after.

The Hurricanes' strategy focused heavily on Russian prospects, selecting four players from Russia among their seven total picks. This continues their pattern of finding value where other NHL teams hesitate due to concerns about transfer agreements and development pathways.

Highlights:

• Goaltender Semyon Frolov (41st overall) was the Hurricanes' top-rated netminder despite being available in the second round
• Charlie Cerrato (49th overall) surprised draft watchers but brings a competitive edge after being the top-scoring rookie in the Big Ten
• Ivan Ryabkin (57th overall) combines elite offensive skills with surprising physicality despite falling from projected first-round status
• Defensemen Kurban Limatov and Roman Bausov continue Carolina's preference for massive (6'4"+) blueliners who can skate exceptionally well
• Filip Ekberg, selected 221st overall after leading the U18 World Championships with 18 points in 7 games, may be the draft's biggest steal
• The Hurricanes' development camp showcased these prospects alongside established names like Josh Nadeau, Jayden Perron & Justin Poirier
• Recent prospect movement included trading Scott Morrow in the K'Andre Miller deal, while Russians like Stanislav Yarovoy and Vladimir Grudinin will continue developing in the KHL

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When hockey goes quiet in the summer, the questions start flowing. stormTRacker celebrates our 2nd anniversary with a special mailbag episode answering fan questions about the Carolina Hurricanes' exciting draft picks, potential trades, roster outlook and what to expect in the upcoming season.

Highlights:

• The podcast achieved 25,000 new views & 2,000 subscribers this past year on youtube & exceeded 250 monthly audio downloads in July for the 1st time on sites such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music & others.
• Metropolitan Division wildcard race predictions show Columbus, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh facing challenges
• Jason Robertson trade speculation centers on Carolina's unique position with Dallas' draft picks and over $10M in cap space
• The 2025 draft excitement focuses on Charlie Cerrato, Ivan Ryabkin, and Semyon Frolov
• Trade deadline targets for the 2C position include Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, Bo Horvat and, potentially, Nazem Kadri
• Pyotr Kochetkov must demonstrate consistency to become the starter with Andersen's contract expiring or will Canes' be looking at the deadline
• Could Sebastian Aho eventually inherit Jordan Staal's shutdown role as the captain ages?
• Alexander Nikishin is projected for 30-45 points depending on deployment and power play time
• Top line combinations might see Svechnikov join Aho and Ehlers, shifting Jarvis to drive the second line

Thanks to everyone who has supported stormTRacker during our first two years. We appreciate your support greatly. Follow us for continued Carolina Hurricanes coverage and analysis all season long.

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