Hurricanes Becoming Stanley Cup Front-Runner

The Carolina Hurricanes are projected to make a run for the Stanley Cup.
Jan 25, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) controls the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) and center Brock Nelson (29) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) controls the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) and center Brock Nelson (29) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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The Carolina Hurricanes made the biggest move of the NHL season when they acquired Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche. The trade gives the Canes a bonafide superstar and a top scorer in the league.

What the veteran scorer also brings to the Hurricanes is perhaps most important. The former Avalanche power forward was a crucial piece of the team's Stanley Cup run in 2022, scoring 25 points in 20 games. His championship experience makes him just the third player on the Carolina roster to win a Stanley Cup, joining captain Jordan Staal and defenseman Dmitry Orlov.

And now the Hurricanes have to be in the conversation for Stanley Cup front-runner. Their forward group, which already was a solid one, is now among the best in the NHL. Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, fellow newcomer Taylo Hall, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi now make up their top two lines. Each player has excellent skating abilities, plays their best on the rush, and can create offense on their own. Over a seven game series, it's very difficult to imagine how an opposing defense can keep all of those players quiet.

The team's recent 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers was a perfect showcasing of the Hurricanes potential. Rantanen recorded his first point with the franchise on a beautiful assist to Svechnikov. Hall also picked up his first point with the organization on an assist, also to Svechnikov. All six of their top forwards recorded at least a point, and eight forwards contributed at least a point in the win. That's a recipe for offensive success, and Carolina is beginning to understand that.

What makes any Stanley Cup team legitimate? The answer is goaltending. It's all for naught if you can't depend on the player in the crease. The Hurricanes have two goalies they can count on, and their starter is now healthy. Veteran Frederik Andersen missed some time recently, but returned in spectacular fashion and posted his first shutout of the season against the Rangers. He and Pyotr Kochetkov are a formidable duo in net and both give the Canes a chance to win regardless of who takes the crease.

The Hurricanes are challenging for the Stanley Cup this postseason, that's for sure. They have come up short of the past few seasons, but with these moves, the team is all-in for 2025. And they have to be considered one of, if not the top, front-runner for the Stanley Cup this season.

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