The 2024-2025 NHL season is officially over, which means we have to wait another three months for Carolina Hurricanes hockey.
The Canes snapped their long, Eastern Conference Finals winless drought, taking Game 4 from the Florida Panthers in May. Carolina bursted out to a quick lead during Game 5 in Raleigh, but three quick Florida goals advanced the eventual champions to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Consider the Canes’ recently-ended season a success. They traded away superstar Mikko Rantanen shortly after acquiring him, while failing to retain 2024 playoff hero Jake Guenztel. Carolina retained several members of its young, talented core – and showcased why it still remains one of the NHL’s best up-and-coming teams.
How will the Canes’ 2025-2026 roster shape out? Have there been any big offseason happenings since the season ended?
Carolina rewards winger Eric Robinson with 4-year contract
The Canes are still in need of offensive firepower – and will benefit from adding younger defensemen. However, if there’s a player who fits really well into a team’s system, coaches will want to keep that player around.
The player in question here is left wing Eric Robinson, whom Carolina originally signed to a 1-year deal ahead of last season.
On Friday, June 20, the Canes rewarded Robinson for his best NHL season to date, signing him to a 4-year contract extension.
Robinson, a longtime Columbus Blue Jacket and former Buffalo Sabre, scored 14 goals and dished out 18 assists last season. Robinson appeared in all 82 regular season games, plus all 15 postseason contests, showcasing his durability in the process.
Robinson will likely continue playing as a third or fourth-line winger, but an important part of the Canes’ future nonetheless.
Sebastian Aho, Frederik Andersen tabbed to represent their countries in 2026 Olympics
Aho is the face of Carolina’s franchise – and a consistent, star-level producer. The Canes struggled to find a consistently reliable, starting goalie since Cam Ward, but have that in Andersen.
On June 16, Aho and Andersen received once-in-a-lifetime invitations, earning selections to their respective countries for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Aho will represent Finland, while Andersen will represent Denmark.
Aho is fresh off a 74-point regular season, in which he scored 29 goals and added 45 assists. In the postseason, Aho added 15 points (seven goals, eight assists).
Andersen dealt with injuries yet again in the regular season, but rose to become one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ top goaltenders – until Carolina ran into the Panthers.
Andersen started 13 postseason contests – winning eight times, recording a 2.02 goals against average and .906 save percentage. Andersen’s best postseason performance came during a Second Round, 3-0 shutout of the Washington Captials, during which he turned away all 21 shots faced.
The Canes previously signed Andersen to a 1-year extension, hoping he can stay healthy and bring another Stanley Cup back to Raleigh.
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