The Carolina Hurricanes have officially closed the book on their 2024-25 NHL campaign, and while the final chapter didn’t include the Stanley Cup celebration fans had hoped for, there’s no shortage of storylines, emotion, and forward-looking energy after the team’s end-of-season media availability.
In front of a packed room of reporters at PNC Arena, players and coaches opened up with raw honesty about a season that promised so much — and nearly delivered. From heartbreak to hope, the Hurricanes used the moment to reflect on what went right, what could’ve gone better, and where this tight-knit squad is heading as a pivotal summer begins.
Captain Jordan Staal, his voice calm but tinged with disappointment, acknowledged the sting of falling short. “We felt like this was the year,” he said. “There’s belief in this room, and that doesn’t change. But when the season ends earlier than you want, it leaves a hole. And now, it’s on us to turn that into fuel.”
Indeed, the Canes showed flashes of championship-caliber brilliance during the season, finishing with 111 points and once again dominating puck possession and defensive metrics. The Rod Brind’Amour system was clicking, the depth was apparent, and the building buzzed with playoff expectations. But the second-round exit at the hands of a resilient New York Rangers squad left a bitter aftertaste. Carolina battled, but couldn’t find the clutch finishing touch in key moments — a narrative that has begun to feel painfully familiar in Raleigh.
“It hurts,” said Sebastian Aho, who led the team in points. “You play all year, grinding every day, and then in a week or two it’s over. I hate this feeling. But we’ll be back. We’re close. We know it.”
The core remains intact, but questions loom. General Manager Don Waddell, who also spoke at the media session, hinted at what could be an aggressive offseason. “We like this group — a lot. But we have to be honest with ourselves. Can we get better? Absolutely. We have flexibility and we’re going to explore every option to make sure we give this team the best chance to take that next step.”
That could mean changes on the blue line, where expiring contracts and emerging youth create a complex puzzle. It could mean another look at the goaltending situation, where Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov split duties throughout the year but didn’t quite steal the spotlight in the playoffs. It could also mean adding that elusive game-breaking forward — the kind of player who can tilt a playoff series with a single shift.
Rod Brind’Amour, as passionate and unapologetically honest as ever, remained optimistic. “It’s hard to do what we’ve done over the past few years,” he said. “We’ve built something sustainable. But we’re not satisfied. No one is. And I believe — no, I know — that we’ll get there. This group deserves it, our fans deserve it, and we’re not going to stop until we do.”
And about those fans — their presence was felt in every corner of the media session. Players praised the “Storm Surge” faithful for bringing playoff-level energy all season long. Martin Nečas, who is due for a contract decision this summer, called the Hurricanes’ supporters “the best in the league.” When asked about his future, Nečas smiled. “This place has become home. We’ll see what happens, but I’ve loved every second here.”
With the dust settling, all eyes now turn to what’s next. The NHL Draft. Free agency. Potential trades. Training camp in September may feel far off, but for the Hurricanes, the work has already begun. There’s no rebuild in Raleigh — only reloading.
As the players filtered out of the locker room one last time, there was no sense of resignation. There was fire. There was hunger. The echoes of disappointment will linger for a while, but the Hurricanes are not a team content to fade away quietly. They’re a team on the verge — a few moves, a little luck, and maybe next year, the story ends the way it always should have.
Summer may bring change, but in Carolina, belief remains the constant.