When the Carolina Hurricanes look at 2025 as a whole, they'll find far more good than bad. The sting of another conference finals exit will loom large for the group, but most of what surrounded it was worth remembering. From clutch goals to big moves and everything in between, here's 2025 broken down with the biggest stories of each month.
January: The Hurricanes take a big swing (1/24)
Almost a year later, this night still stands out in my mind. This seemingly calm Friday night turned into one of pure chaos as the Hurricanes made a bold move. In a three-team deal with the Avalanche and the Blackhawks, the Canes acquired Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall. The trade sent both Martin Necas and Jack Drury to Colorado.
You can clearly see the vision Eric Tulsky had when making this move. Rantanen is a star, and the one thing everyone said the Canes needed was a big-time scorer in the playoffs. They made this risky move without a long-term agreement in place, but it was a move the team was more than willing to make if it would help them in the playoffs. Little did we know what was coming.
February: Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho go off before the 4 Nations (2/8)
With the 4 Nations Face-Off cutting into the season in February and the Canes playing poorly in the month surrounding it, good moments were few and far between. However, the best of the bunch came in the final game before the break when the Canes hosted the Utah Hockey Club. Two of its stars, who were heading to Montreal and Boston, had themselves a game.
The dynamic duo of Seth Jarvis (2G, 2A) and Sebastian Aho (2G, 1A) combined for seven points in a 7-3 victory over Utah, helping to snap a three-game skid. They did it all, scoring three of Carolina's four goals in the middle frame at each strength to pull away. It was a good showing for the two before they participated in the best-on-best showdown.
March: The new guys fit like a glove (3/9)
For the better part of six weeks, the hockey world watched with bated breath as the Canes tried to convince Rantanen to stay in Raleigh. Ultimately, they couldn't make it work, leading to another big trade. This time, the Canes traded Rantanen to Dallas for Logan Stankoven and four draft picks. Late on deadline day, the team made another move when they added Mark Jankowski from Nashville.
Both Stankoven and Jankowski joined the lineup for the team's first contest after the deadline, a tilt against the Winnipeg Jets. Immediately, the new guys made their presence felt. Jankowski scored twice in the contest against eventual Hart and Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck, and Stankoven added to it on the power play in the third in a 4-2 victory for the Canes.
April: Aho vanishes the Devils in Game 5 (4/29)
As has been the case for the last few years, the true measure of the Hurricanes' season would come in the postseason. To open the playoffs, the Canes were paired against the New Jersey Devils. Behind big performances at home and a hat trick in Game 4 by Andrei Svechnikov, the Canes were on the verge of eliminating the Devils when the puck dropped for Game 5.
The visitors appeared poised to stave off elimination, leading 3-0 in the first, but the Canes stormed back to open the second with three unanswered to make it a ballgame. Tied at four after regulation, Game 5 continued into a second overtime, where Aho would finish it off. On the power play, Aho hammered a one-timer for the far dot past Jacob Markstrom, bringing an end to the Devils' season.
May: The Canes are the last Metro team standing (5/15)
Their victory over the Devils meant a date with the Metro Division champs in the second round. The series against the Washington Capitals was a lot tighter, but the Canes found ways to pull away once they brought the series to Raleigh. After splitting in D.C., the group fed off the crowd for a pair of lopsided wins at the Lenovo Center.
With a chance to advance in Game 5, the Canes and the Capitals fought hard, trading goals in the first period. The deadlock remained for much of regulation until the visitors found a little daylight. From a sharp angle, Svechnikov threw one at the net that handcuffed Logan Thompson, putting the Canes ahead with 1:59 left. Jarvis added another into the empty net, ending Washington's season with it.
June: Eric Robinson makes Raleigh his home (6/20)
Once you reach the summer months, the news starts to get a little tougher. During June and July, the news primarily focuses on the draft, trades, free agency, and contract extensions. For the Canes in June, the biggest news of the month was their extension of Eric Robinson on a four-year deal to prevent him from reaching free agency.
I was stoked about the news when it hit because Robinson fits what the Hurricanes are trying to do every night. He's not the greatest offensive threat, though he's already on pace to break his career high in goals (14), which he set last season, with nine goals in 32 games this season. Robinson plays the game the right way, making this another great move for the Canes.
July: The biggest catch of the summer (7/3)
With most of the other teams ensuring the opening day of free agency would be slow and boring, there were only a handful of high-impact players left for the taking when July 1 rolled around. At the top of the list was winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who was looking for a change of scenery after a decade thriving in Winnipeg.
He didn't immediately sign, waiting until July 3 to make his decision and sign a six-year contract with the Hurricanes. When he finally decided on Raleigh, the Caniacs were excited. Ehlers got off to a slow start with his new team, but he has found his groove and is proving to be an excellent playmaker in the system. The goals will come, so long as he is a steady contributor.
August: A 2025 draftee signs his first pro deal (8/27)
In the lead-up to the 2025 Entry Draft, I was very keen on the Hurricanes drafting Ivan Ryabkin. After being a contender for selection in the first round, concerns about inconsistent play and effort saw him continually slide down mock drafts. Of course, this is the type of player that the front office likes to jump on, and that they did.
The Hurricanes selected Ryabkin with the 62nd pick of June's draft, bringing a potential steal into their ranks. Just a few months later, the 18-year-old decided to sign his entry-level deal. Ryabkin showed good progress during training camp before earning his way onto the Chicago Wolves roster. In 22 games in the AHL, he has a goal and six assists.
September: The team gets a new road look (9/3)
I'm not a fashion expert, and I'd never claim to be one. When the Canes announced their new road jerseys in early September, it took some time for them to grow on me. Now that we've seen them in action for an entire preseason and half of the regular season, I can confidently say that I'm firmly on board and really like them.
Their new white jerseys draw inspiration from their 2022 Stadium Series kits, with the front crest being nearly identical. The best detail is the "Strutting Stormy" on the shoulder, which was also incorporated into plenty of merch. Many are still out on the new fits, and that's perfectly fine. I think they look good and are an upgrade from what they previously wore on the road.
October: The Brandon Bussi Story begins (10/15)
With the offseason behind them, the Hurricanes turned to the new season. Before finalizing their roster, the group claimed goalie Brandon Bussi off waivers in a preemptive move, with Cayden Primeau likely to be snagged once the Canes did the same in an attempt to send him to Chicago. Little did we know that this decision would be a blessing in disguise.
As Pyotr Kochetkov began the season on the shelf, Bussi was thrust into action when the team began its State Fair trip. Making his NHL debut in San Jose, we got our first look at what Bussi would do consistently for the first few months. Bussi stopped 16 of 17 shots as the Canes opened their trip with a 5-1 victory.
November: The Winnipeg Kid strikes thrice (11/28)
The Hurricanes and the Jets met on back-to-back Fridays in November, and Seth Jarvis played a big part in both victories. The Winnipeg-born sniper scored a short-handed goal in the team's 4-3 victory on the road on November 21, giving the Canes the lead in the second period before they closed it out. One week later, Jarvis was even better.
For the second time in his career, Jarvis notched a hat trick. That he did it against his hometown team only made it that much sweeter. Rookie Thomas Milic did a great job of keeping the Canes in check early in his debut. Jarvis's first goal late in the opening frame helped open things up. He added the final two goals in the third as the Canes cruised to a season sweep in a 5-1 win.
December: From the waiver wire to NHL history (12/11)
Everything Brandon Bussi has done over the first three months of his NHL career has been historic. The Hurricanes gave the 27-year-old netminder a chance, and he has taken the ball and run with it. Entering their second meeting of the season against the Capitals, Bussi was chasing history. Washington didn't make it easy on him.
During the first 65 minutes of play, Bussi was beaten only twice. On the other end, the Canes only beat Logan Thompson twice, too. In the shootout, Bussi went toe-to-toe with the future Olympian, and he got it done. Bussi stopped all three shots he faced, securing a 3-2 victory. In doing so, Bussi became the quickest goalie in NHL history to ten wins, adding another incredible chapter to his story.