Canes inch closer to On-Ice Action with Preseason Schedule announcement

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If the Carolina Hurricanes want to turn themselves into a Stanley Cup winner, they have plenty of work to do this offseason.

Carolina finally snapped its winless streak in the Eastern Conference Finals, taking Game 4 from the Florida Panthers, but lacked the firepower of its sunshine state counterparts. Florida has a roster littered with potential top-line players – while the Canes have plenty of talent, it isn’t close to the Panthers’ level.

Carolina wasn’t expected to make an ECF run this past season, largely due to roster turnover, but surprised the hockey world. If the Canes play their offseason smart and acquire some top-rank talent, their 2025-2026 campaign will be even more exciting.

Anticipation can officially start building, with the Canes releasing their preseason schedule on Tuesday afternoon. Let’s take a quick look at their opponents.

Tampa Bay Lightning – September 22 in Raleigh, Sept. 26 in Tampa

The Lightning lost in five, First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs games to their cross-state rival Panthers back in April.

Carolina lost in five ECF games to that same Florida squad, almost taking that series to six, before a Game 5 collapse ended that hope.

The Canes and Lightning will open their preseasons against each other, on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., then face off again in Tampa four days later at the same time.

Florida Panthers – Sept. 24 in Raleigh, Sept. 29 in Sunrise

There’s no team Carolina wants to beat more, right now, than the Florida Panthers. The Canes watched their once-promising season come to a screeching halt against Florida, which went on to win its second-consecutive Stanley Cup.

Carolina can get an early win against the Panthers in September, or Carolina can double up with two.

Nashville Predators – Sept. 28 in Raleigh, Oct. 4 in Nashville

The Canes and Preds are both in the Southeast, but outside of a playoff matchup in the COVID-altered 2020-2021 season, aren’t major rivals.

Regardless, Carolina will try for its first victory against Nashville since 2023 – in the 2025 preseason. The Canes and Preds end their preseason slates against each other.