The Hurricanes open the 2025-26 season Thursday at home against the visiting Devils, a rematch of last year’s first round playoff match that Carolina won in five games.
1. The Hurricanes enter the season healthy with one exception: Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov will not dress behind starter Frederik Andersen against the Devils, meaning Brendan Bussi — claimed off waivers four days before the opener — will be the backup.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Kochetkov will be getting checked out Friday, which raises the possibility of Bussi making his NHL debut as early as Saturday against the Flyers.
“Something went in practice the other day, he didn’t feel right, and it hasn’t gotten any better,” Brind’Amour said of Kochetkov. “So, yeah, that’s definitely not something we wanted to hear.”
Devils Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic (knee) and former Hurricanes forward Stefan Noesen (groin) are both out for the Devils.
2. Speaking of injuries, Devils superstar Jack Hughes is set to play for the first time in more than seven months after undergoing shoulder surgery near the end of last season.
Hughes dressed in three preseason games, averaging more than 20 minutes a night, and had four assists.
Hughes said after the morning skate that it was tough watching his team lose its first round series to Carolina.
“Yeah, that’s frustrating,” Hughes said. “I mean, obviously you grind all year and you want to be in the mix for the playoffs. So (it was) definitely frustrating. So I’m looking forward to getting back to aspiring to get back and playing in the playoffs.”
He has averaged a point per game (six goals, eight assists in 14 regular season games) in his career against the Hurricanes, and the 24-year-old former first overall brings a unique dynamic to the Devils.
“We’re obviously a far different team when he plays in our lineup,” Keefe said.
Hughes called Carolina “the best team in the Metro” and said the Devils need to overtake the Hurricanes if they are to get to where they want to go.
“A great challenge for us to start the year,” Hughes said. “These guys, we’ve got respect for them, but I think that we’re in a good spot. We’ve got a good team, and we’ve got a lot of belief in this group. So it’s an exciting way to start the season.”
3. While Keefe got a full training camp out of Hughes, he wasn’t so lucky with his younger brother, defenseman Luke Hughes.
Luke Hughes signed a seven-year, $63 million extension Oct. 1 after sitting out much of camp, so the 22-year-old is playing catch-up and hasn’t seen game action since Game 4 of last year’s playoff series against the Hurricanes.
“Short camp, it’s not ideal,” Keefe said. “So is he as ready as you’d like him to be or as ready as his teammates? That remains to be seen. Probably not in terms of the way the camp has gone.
“But his skating and his pace, all those kind of things are so natural to him that you’d like to think that that can come into place pretty quickly. But we’ve got to work with him and just see how it goes. But there’s no games left to practice through. We’ve got to get at it. So I think there’s no better opportunity for him to adjust and adapt and get his game going and to just get right in there and play. We gave him ample time with practices, and he’s gotten better every time out.”
The older Hughes brother said Luke should be ready to go for the Devils.
“I think he’s in really good shape,” Jack Hughes said, “so he’s definitely putting the work in. It’s a little different when you’re not with the group. But I’m excited he’s here for Game 1 just because you didn’t know where it would go.”
Luke Hughes has put up back-to-back 40-point seasons but will have expectations heightened given his new deal.
4. A good plan for the opener and the season’s first handful of games? KISS — keep it simple, stupid.
“Hopefully we just come out and we do play the way we want to play and give us the best chance,” Brind’Amour said. “But … usually these first few games, there’s a little bit of guys trying to do a little too much, especially the newer players sometimes. But even the older guys who have been here, so you’re always looking to avoid that. But it’s something that’s on your mind for sure.”
That will be particularly important for Carolina’s new players, Brind’Amour said.
“I think you always stress that, especially when you have a few new guys in your lineup,” he said.
Keefe, however, also stressed that his skilled players need to show what makes them special.
“We want to play a simple game all the time,” the second-year Devils coach said. “I want to be fast. I want to be direct and get after the game. That said, we’ve got some really creative people that we need to make some plays and make the difference. But they’ve got to pick their spots and find their way, which is even harder to do against an opponent like this.”
5. The Hurricanes lined up as expected during the morning skate, using the lines Brind’Amour has deployed much of training camp in preparation for Game 1.
On top of Kochetkov, Mark Jankowski and Mike Reilly will likely be in the press conference Thursday night barring a last-minute change.
Two Carolina players will be playing for the first time since last season after not suiting up for a preseason game: defensemen K’Andre Miller and Jaccob Slavin.
Slavin didn’t seem concerned heading into the opener.
“I’m ready to go,” he told me. “I’m here.”
