While the offseason has already begun, though the Carolina Hurricanes are standing in the corner watching everyone else do stuff while they stay relatively quiet, there are a few loose ends that need to be tied off. The 2025-26 season was about as good as it gets for the Canes, standing atop the mountain and looking down at the rest of the league as Stanley Cup champions.
We've taken a few looks at the different ways the team came together to get the job done, so it's time to break this thing down to an individual level. This marks the first of four parts during which we'll assign a grade to each of the Hurricanes, evaluating their regular season and postseason journey. Their final grade will incorporate their season from October to June.
To prevent each one from getting too long, I'm only going to talk in-depth about the players who appeared in more than ten games. Nicolas Deslauriers is one of the few players to whom this doesn't apply. He played seven games during the regular season and one in the playoffs, posting one assist. There wasn't much to talk about, though I'm optimistic there might be more over the next two years.
Bradly Nadeau
It might not be entirely fair to include Bradly Nadeau, but he played in 12 games and meets the threshold that I set. His games came across three call-ups throughout the season, playing six games in late October and early November, two before Christmas, and the final four games of the regular season. It resulted in Nadeau scoring the first three goals of his NHL career.
Nadeau saw a greater chance to thrive during his late-season call-up, especially since most of the regulars were out. He averaged just under 13 minutes per game over his first eight contests before playing over 15 minutes in three of his final four. It's not a massive sample size for him, though he should earn a bigger chance in the Canes' lineup with Seth Jarvis out to begin the 2026-27 season.
Final Grade: C
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
I guess it doesn't matter what you call Jesperi Kotkaniemi, so long as you include "Stanley Cup champion" before it. Kotkaniemi only played in 42 games this season, but it's enough to get his name on the Cup. During those games, he had just two goals and nine points, most of which came during the first two months of the season.
Kotkaniemi's playing time was almost non-existent after the Olympic Break. He played six times over the final two months, five of which came in the team's final six games. He didn't record a point after January 31, and his last game was in mid-November against Buffalo. Kotkaniemi was not used during the playoffs, and his time with the Hurricanes has likely come to an end.
Final Grade: D
Eric Robinson
After a career season during his first year in Raleigh, Eric Robinson's production dipped this season, dropping from 32 points in 2024-25 to 18 in 2025-26. Part of that can be attributed to a pair of injuries suffered during the season. However, he posted a second straight 10+-goal season while spending almost all of his time on the fourth line, providing plenty of speed and physicality.
Robinson was a little snake-bitten during the first two rounds of the playoffs, providing just two assists during the opening round. He came alive during the Eastern Conference Finals, scoring a team-high three goals against Montreal and adding an assist. He finished with eight points in 19 games, more than his previous two postseason trips combined.
Final Grade: B
Mark Jankowski
Playing with the Hurricanes for a full season after his mid-season acquisition last March, Mark Jankowski fit in perfectly on the fourth line. He provided his highest point total since 2018-19, finishing the year with 11 goals and 21 points. Jankowski came on strong at the end of the season, scoring six goals over the final two months, and he earned a nice extension during the playoffs.
During last year's postseason run, Jankowski was in and out of the lineup. That wasn't the case this year. He was the Canes' second-best face-off man in a playoff that saw the Canes struggle in the dot. Jankowski was at his best in the Eastern Conference Finals, providing three helpers. As for his only goal, Jankowski picked the perfect time to score it, tying Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Final Grade: B
William Carrier
The award for the Hurricanes' "Human Wrecking Ball" goes to William Carrier, who narrowly edged out the captain for the team's most hits (172). If not for a short injury early in the season, he might've gotten over 200. Points were at a premium at times, finishing with 18, though his seven goals were a bit higher than normal. Given his role, it's hard to be upset with his production.
Carrier didn't score much during the postseason, either. However, like his linemates, he showed up in a big way during the Eastern Conference Finals. After going pointless through two rounds, Carrier picked up three assists against Montreal, guiding the team to the Stanley Cup Final against his former team. Carrier got the last laugh in Vegas, winning his second Stanley Cup in four years.
Final Grade: B-
Jordan Martinook
While Jordan Martinook started hot, scoring points in seven of the first 11 games, he failed to reach 30 points for the first time in a few years, preventing him from reaching the 200-point milestone as a Hurricane. However, he wasn't that far off, scoring 12 goals and 29 points in 77 games. Three of those goals were short-handed tallies, finishing second on the team and tied for seventh in the NHL.
Martinook wasn't as prevalent offensively during the postseason, but he wasn't immune to the big moment. In Game 2 against Ottawa, he was stoned on a penalty shot in overtime, only to have his number called again in 2OT, scoring the winner to push the team ahead 2-0 in the series. His only other goal came in the Stanley Cup Final, ending the postseason with five points in 19 games.
Final Grade: B
Jordan Staal
Let's finish this part by talking about the captain. Just about everything that Jordan Staal did this season was incredible. He knocked off a few milestones, scoring his 300th goal at the beginning of the season and setting the team record for games played with his 910th contest in November. Offensively, Staal returned to the 20-goal club, reaching it for the first time since 2015-16.
He did his best work during the playoffs. Specifically, Staal played the most sensational hockey of his career during the Stanley Cup Final. Staal scored a goal in each of the first five games in the series, recording six goals and seven points against Vegas. His hard work was rewarded with the Conn Smythe Trophy, making him the oldest player in NHL history to win the award.
Final Grade: A+
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