Capitals vs. the Metro: Hurricanes Lose Talent in 2024 Offseason

The Carolina Hurricanes finished the 2023-24 season with a record of 52-23-7. They were ranked second in the Metropolitan Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference with 111 points. Only the New York Rangers had more points than they did in the East, with 114 points. The Hurricanes had a lot of talent who helped produce significantly for them. On the offense, the club was led by Sebastian Aho, who had 36 goals and 53 assists for 89 points in 78 games. They also had other players like Seth Jarvis, Teuvo Teravainen, Brady Skjei, and Martin Necas, who also played key roles for the team.

However, this team lost a lot over the 2024 offseason. How will the Hurricanes play in 2024-25? Carolina made it all the way to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Rangers and lost in six games. Can they return there again and go further in the 2025 playoffs?

Hurricanes Who Left the Team in the Offseason

The 2024 offseason was a tough one for the team. They lost quite a few players. They will still be a solid roster for the 2024-25 campaign, but those players who left were still important for them. Winger Teuvo Teravainen, who played in 76 games and recorded 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points, left as a free agent and signed back with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he started his NHL career. Also on the forward ranks, Carolina could not re-sign winger Jake Guentzel to an extension, and the team dealt him to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Capitals were familiar with one of the other forwards who decided not to return for the Hurricanes in Evgeny Kuznetsov. Brian MacLellan traded the 2018 Stanley Cup champion to Carolina for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. After the 2023-24 campaign, Kuznetsov returned to the KHL and inked a contract with SKA Saint Petersburg.

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) in action during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

On the blue line, Brett Pesce left in free agency for the New Jersey Devils. He signed a six-year deal worth $33 million. Pesce had been with the Hurricanes since the organization drafted him 66th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. His best statistical campaign for them came during the 2022-23 season when he had 30 points in 82 games (five goals and 25 assists). The Devils also signed former Carolina winger Stefan Noesen, who will be appearing in his second stint for New Jersey.

In management, team president and general manager Don Waddell resigned from his role with the team. He went to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he became their President of Hockey Operations, general manager, and alternate governor. Replacing him is Eric Tulsky, who was the Hurricanes’ assistant GM.

Between the pipes, goalie Antti Raanta will not play for Carolina in 2024-25, or in the NHL at all. He was with the Hurricanes for three seasons. He also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Arizona Coyotes.

Lastly, the Hurricanes lost Brady Skjei to the Nashville Predators. He signed a seven-year contract worth $49 million with them. He previously spent parts of the last five seasons with the Hurricanes. Last season, Skjei produced his best point total of his career. In 80 games, he scored 13 goals and 34 assists for 47 points. He joined the Predators as a free agent, in what was a big offseason for them with also landing forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

2023-24 Season Series

The Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes met four times during the 2023-24 season. They first played each other on December 17 in PNC Arena in Raleigh. The Capitals defeated the Hurricanes in a shootout, 2-1. Washington’s regulation tally came from Martin Fehervary, while Sebastian Aho scored Carolina’s goal.

The second matchup between both clubs was on January 5 at Capital One Arena in D.C. The Hurricanes got a flurry of goals from Brent Burns in the second period, followed by tallies from Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Brent Burns’ second of the game, Dmitry Orlov, and Vasily Ponomarev. The two Washington goals came from Nic Dowd and Dylan Strome. That was a tough one to take too, because the Capitals had a 2-0 lead and then the offense for the Hurricanes took off.

Washington Capitals’ Dylan Strome (17) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in New York. The Rangers won 5-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington won the third battle between the two clubs in another tight contest. They won a high-scoring bout 7-6 in a shootout. Leading the way for the Capitals was Sonny Milano, who netted a hat trick, as well as goals from Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, and Connor McMichael. Carolina got offensive contributions from an Aho hat trick, Seth Jarvis, Jaccob Slavin, and Brady Skjei. The shootout was won by Dylan Strome.

The last matchup between Washington and Carolina was on April 5 in Raleigh. The Hurricanes won 4-2. Ovechkin got both Capitals goals, while Guentzel had two goals along with contributions from Martin Necas and Aho for the Hurricanes.

2024-25 Season Series Matchup

One thing the Capitals need to work on when taking on the Hurricanes is trying to stop their offense. Carolina still has a lot of weapons, despite the amount of talent they lost in the offseason. Aho is someone who is capable of scoring 40 goals in a single campaign. He has not accomplished it yet, but he has come close on countless occasions. He is dangerous for the Hurricanes.

Seth Jarvis is a 30-goal scorer for the squad as well, and just signed a new extension so he will be a threat for them for many seasons to come. Also in Carolina’s lineup include Martin Necas, Andrei Svechnikov, Brent Burns, Jaccob Slavin, and Jordan Martinook. Also, in net, despite losing a valuable goalie in Raanta, Carolina is still covered with guys like Freddy Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. Not to mention, they have one of the best head coaches in the sport with Rod Brind’Amour.

The two clubs will play against one another four times in 2024-25. The first matchup takes place on November 3 at 5:00 P.M. in PNC Arena. Then, the Capitals will see the Hurricanes again on December 20 at home for a 7:00 P.M. faceoff. Then, the two teams will not see each other until April 2, which will be in Raleigh. The last of four matchups will be in D.C. on April 10.