Carolina Hurricanes: Enough Offense for the Stanley Cup Final?
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes, with their sights set on the Stanley Cup Final, are confident they have the offense needed to achieve it.“Easily,” said winger Andrei Svechnikov. “I think we have a lot of offense. We have a lot of skill. The best thing is that we also have the system.”
Andrei Svechnikov
Despite doubts about their offensive ability, the team is confident in overcoming the challenges that have historically affected their postseason performance, especially in the search for crucial goals in close series. The loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against the Florida Panthers, where they only managed one goal until the end of the game, rekindled skepticism. This defeat marked their fifth consecutive loss in the conference final against the Panthers and the thirteenth consecutive loss in the penultimate round of the NHL playoffs, dating back to 2009.
The franchise recognized this need by acquiring players with playoff experience, such as Jake Guentzel in 2024 and the temporary addition of Mikko Rantanen in 2025, although neither of them are currently on the roster.
However, the Hurricanes firmly believe that their roster has the talent needed to compete for the Stanley Cup under the direction of Rod Brind’Amour.
“I trust that a lot. We have a lot of skill,” center Sebastian Aho said. “We have a lot of players who can score goals.”
Sebastian Aho
The Hurricanes have been a successful team since Brind’Amour took over as coach in 2018-19, with a regular season points percentage of .654, the third best in the NHL. Their defense is solid, and their offense has remained among the best in the league, thanks to players like Aho, Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis.
Under Brind’Amour’s command, Carolina has advanced past the first round of the playoffs in each season, including three appearances in the Eastern Conference final. Their defense has been consistent, but their offense has averaged fewer goals per game in the playoffs compared to the regular season.
Carolina’s reputation as a difficult team to face is undeniable, as highlighted by Florida’s star player, Matthew Tkachuk.
Despite the defensive success, Carolina’s offense has not maintained the same level in the playoffs, averaging fewer goals per game under Brind’Amour.
A deeper analysis reveals that efficiency in the power play has been a key factor. While in the regular season they have had a conversion rate of 21.7%, in the playoffs it has decreased to 16.5%, although in the current postseason they have improved their performance.
The quality of opponents also plays an important role, as the Hurricanes’ eliminations have been against strong defensive teams. Furthermore, the theory of “live by the shot attempt, die by the shot attempt” suggests that their style of quantity over quality does not generate enough high-danger opportunities.
Carolina has lost 13 consecutive games in the conference finals. Faced with this frustration, Brind’Amour emphasizes the importance of maintaining their style of play and focusing on creating more scoring opportunities.
In the series against the Panthers in 2023, Carolina’s shot volume was similar to that of previous rounds, but their offense collapsed in the conference final. Andrei Svechnikov’s health could be the key to turning the tide.
Svechnikov, who missed the 2023 postseason due to an injury, has had a significant impact this season, with 10 points in his first 11 playoff games, including eight goals. His return could be the differentiating factor that Carolina needs.
The team, seeking to advance beyond the conference finals, made moves in the transfer market, including the acquisition of Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen. Although Rantanen had a positive impact, he did not sign a contract extension, and was traded.
Dallas coach Pete DeBoer commented that Rantanen’s arrival changed the team’s identity, but Stankoven believes Carolina doesn’t need an individual star to succeed. The Hurricanes’ predominant message in the playoffs is that success depends on teamwork.
The players, including Jarvis, are confident that Carolina’s offense has what it takes to compete for the Stanley Cup.
