Carolina Hurricanes Preseason Preview: Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice for their first preseason game tonight at 7pm EST against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Well, Caniacs, the time has come. After what seems like an eternity, Carolina Hurricanes hockey is back, albeit in ‘preseason mode’. In the first of a two-game series, the Hurricanes will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the 2018-19 President’s Trophy winners with more than a few things to prove, and quite the roster in tow.

To kick things off, here is the roster the Carolina Hurricanes are bringing to the Amalie Arena:

Haydn Fleury, Brett Pesce, Brock McGinn, Jake Bean, Max McCormick, Brian Gibbons, Anton Forsberg, Jacob Pritchard, Cavan Fitzgerald, Eetu Luostarinen, Julien Gauthier, Morgan Geekie, Kyle Wood, James Reimer, Jordan Martinook, Jeremy Helvig, Roland McKeown, Jesper Sellgren, Janne Kuokkanen, Ryan Suzuki, Lucas Wallmark, and Colin Markison.

A healthy mix of long-time Hurricanes, Checkers, and more than a few fresh new faces, this Canes’ roster has quite a bit to prove in their first preseason game of 2019. Over the course of the offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes have been widely touted as having one of the best prospect pools in the league.

This is the future Canes’ time to shine, as Tampa Bay boasts a relatively solid prospect pool as well; however, they have not (at the time of writing) publicly announced their roster for tonight’s matchup.

With a lineup like the one listed above, it is hard to tell which players are going to slot in to which lines, and which goaltender(s) will see any sort of action. If I had to guess, I’d say Reimer will start, with Helvig and Forsberg possibly seeing action in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Players that I, personally, have been excited to see in action against other NHLers and NHL prospects are Ryan Suzuki and Jake Bean.

Ryan Suzuki, as we all know by now, was selected 28th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and brings a solid playmaking ability and an immense hockey IQ to the rink. I don’t believe he’ll make the NHL roster right out of training camp, but he will definitely be a player to watch this evening.

On the other side of the coin, Jake Bean is in the running to finally claim a full-time NHL spot. Bean, the Hurricanes’ 13th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has been improving and progressing steadily over the course of the past two seasons or so. A standout offensive defenseman with the Checkers last year, Bean was a huge contributor in winning the Calder Cup last season, and could begin arguing his case for finally transitioning full time to the NHL tonight.

Tonight will be the first step in many a young hockey players’ career. Rod Brind’amour, Don Waddell, and Co. have made it very clear that every player at camp will be given an opportunity to earn an NHL spot. Tonight could prove to be history in the making for more than a few up-and-comers in the Carolina Hurricanes’ organization, and from what I’ve seen in training camp, I’d recommend that the rest of the league take notice, and Take Warning. The storm surge is just beginning.

Question for CC Readers: Which player(s) are you most excited to watch tonight?