It is hard to believe that it is the end of August already but hockey will be played next month. The players have begun skating and preparing for the season in their hometowns, states, or countries.
The summer-long preparation for the 2023-24 NHL season will all come to a head when training camp begins in September. The Carolina Hurricanes will start the pre-season schedule on September 26th against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This will be the first of six exhibition games played by the Canes, closing the pre-season on October 6th against the Nashville Predators.
So after a long offseason, what player are you looking forward to seeing back on the ice the most?
The buzz is always around the new additions to the squad but it is nice to see the familiar faces that let you know it’s that time of the year again.
Sebastian Aho is coming back with a nice new contract and is sure to have a pep in his step. Like Aho, the captain, Jordan Staal, returns to Raleigh with a brand new contract to finish off his career.
The return of Jesper Fast, Frederik Andersen, and Antti Raanta will bring some comfort as being unrestricted free agents this summer meant the possibility of them wearing a different sweater this fall.
How about a new player with a familiar face Tony DeAngelo?
Speaking of new faces you could get a first look at Dmitry Orlov in Canes colors or new forwards, Michael Bunting and Brendan Lemieux.
I am personally looking forward to seeing Andrei Svechnikov back on the ice healthy and making strides. It was a huge blow to the team on and off the ice when Svechnikov went down last year with an injury.
Either way it will be nice to start seeing the players return to Raleigh as the start of the season rapidly approaches.