Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! On this festive day of giving thanks and stuffing faces, there is plenty to be thankful for as fans of the Carolina Hurricanes, and there has been for the better part of the last eight seasons. There is no better time to give thanks and talk about everything great about the Canes so far this season. I limited myself to just five things, though there are plenty more.
1. Another excellent start
While we're still licking our wounds after Wednesday's loss to the Rangers, the Canes are off to a very good start when you consider the sheer number of injuries they've endured through 23 games. They've played 21 games without Jaccob Slavin, and, at times, were down three regulars on the blue line. The forwards have been a little more durable, though far from 100 percent.
The Canes enter the holiday with 30 points, sitting one point out of first in both the division and the conference. The Metropolitan Division has been brutal this season, with five points separating the Devils at the top from the Rangers at the bottom. Every team in the division is above .500. We haven't seen this team play at full strength this season, yet they're right in the thick of the hunt.
2. Their organizational depth and spreading the wealth offensively
With all of the injuries they've suffered through, their start is a testament to the depth they have both on the main roster and in the AHL. They've called upon several players to step in when an injury occurs. Joel Nystrom has been one of the greatest revelations. The former 7th-round pick has become a big part of the team since joining in Colorado during the State Fair trip.
It hasn't just been the top guys pulling on the rope either. While Sebastian Aho (8-15-23) and Seth Jarvis (12-7-19) are at the top, the scoring is coming from across the entire lineup. Through 23 games, nine players have reached double digits in points, and eight have scored at least five goals. It's part of the reason the Hurricanes are one of the top offensive teams in the league.
3. Brilliance in the college ranks
There are some Hurricanes draft picks doing big things in the collegiate game this season, too. The Canes have three prospects in the Top 30 in scoring in the NCAA. Maine forward Justin Poirier leads all freshmen with 11 goals, just three off the lead for the most in the country. Michigan forward Jayden Perron is rolling at a point-per-game for the top-ranked Wolverines.
Near the top of the list is Penn State sophomore Charlie Cerrato, whom the Canes selected in the 2nd round in June. While things have cooled down a bit, Cerrato is tied for 4th in the country with 21 points. He had some truly remarkable games at the beginning of the season, making the Caniacs even more excited about what the future could hold for him in Raleigh.
4. Brandon Bussi
This is more of a personal pick because I've enjoyed witnessing Brandon Bussi's story unfold with the Hurricanes. The Canes snatched him off the waiver wire before finalizing their roster, and it proved important with Pyotr Kochetkov's injury before the season. At 27 years old, he made his debut in San Jose and hasn't looked back, providing momentary stability between the pipes.
The team's deployment of his services has slowed with Kochetkov's return, but the third stringer is 5-1-0 in his first six NHL starts. He has stepped in during some big spots and performed very well. Bussi has done all of this with an eye-catching, solid white mask, though that changed recently with the arrival of his custom mask.
Brandon Bussi’s custom mask is finally in!
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) November 25, 2025
He said he actually didn’t mind the all-white look, but is happy to have this.
Done by Dave Art, it includes tribute to his younger brother, who has autism. pic.twitter.com/E9OiJ2JcMk
5. The front office's offseason paying off already
This was a very big offseason for the Hurricanes, both with new additions and major contract extensions. The Canes appeared to be one of the most improved teams on the block, adding Nikolaj Ehlers and K'Andre Miller. While Miller's debut brought immediate results, it has been a slower build for Ehlers. After five scoreless games, Ehlers is tied for fourth on the team in scoring (4-11-15).
As for the extensions, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake inked eight-year contracts that are already looking like big wins for the team. Stankoven has undergone a big adjustment to become the team's 2C, and there's plenty of room to grow. Blake has been one of the biggest stories of the first quarter, starting the season with 15 points and playing like a man possessed on Stankoven's wing.