Hurricanes’ New Core Taking Form in 2026 Stanley Cup Run

It took eight consecutive postseason appearances, but the Carolina Hurricanes are finally Stanley Cup Final-bound. Years of playoff heartbreak for head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s club are in the rearview mirror.

In some ways, not much has changed since this team’s surprise Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2019. Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin, and Andrei Svechnikov—while much more experienced all these years later—are still synonymous with Hurricanes hockey. Fans have watched them evolve from kids into franchise icons.

There has been one interesting development, though. In this year’s run, you could argue that a passing of the torch has taken place. Instead of now-veterans Aho and Slavin, or even 26-year-old Svechnikov carrying the load, a new group has taken charge. It’s a group that could define Carolina’s short- and long-term future.

Blake & Stankoven Are Entering Star Territory

Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven, signed through 2033-34, put up career highs in their age-22 seasons. Blake recorded 22 goals and 31 assists across 81 games and forced himself into a second-line role. Stankoven, meanwhile, had 21 goals and 23 assists in 81 games. The two youngsters took encouraging steps, but the playoffs have them entering star territory.

Generally, it’s not wise to put too much stock into a 13-game sample size. However, what Blake and Stankoven have shown isn’t exactly anything new. With their bump in usage, they look like two of the most dangerous players in hockey right now.

Through three rounds, Blake and Stankoven have 15 and 12 points, respectively. Their impact has shown up on more than just the box score, as they’re both sitting above a 65% expected goal share at 5-on-5. The Hurricanes have been dominant as a team, of course, but these two have gone above and beyond.

In fact, Blake and Stankoven have been historically excellent. Among 22-year-old skaters with at least 200 minutes of ice time in the playoffs since 2008, they rank fifth and ninth in points per 60. In 5-on-5 expected goal share, they’re first and second (with Stankoven leading in that department). Here’s a breakdown:

The implication here isn’t that Blake and Stankoven are future superstars, as the list might indicate. Rather, their impact has been superstar-caliber, and that’s the important takeaway. They are poised to not just contribute to Carolina’s long-term success but also be the faces of it.

Aho, who will turn 29 years old in the summer, won’t be a star forever. With the way that they’re playing, Blake and Stankoven could very well take his place on the top line someday.

Miller Is Playing at a No. 1 Level

At 26 years old, K’Andre Miller isn’t exactly a “young gun” anymore. But with him having the playoff run of a lifetime—perhaps somewhat quietly so—he is showing that he has what it takes to be this team’s No. 1 guy when Slavin, 32 years old, starts to regress.

Leading the team in average ice time these playoffs (23:55), this run has been Miller’s first real opportunity in a No. 1 defensive role in the NHL. So far, he has passed Brind’Amour’s test with flying colors. With eight assists and a plus-14 rating, his counting stats are fantastic. On the advanced side, he is effectively the best defender in these playoffs:

Should Miller’s game age in a standard manner for a player of his caliber, he will have plenty of prime years ahead (luckily for Carolina, he’s locked up through 2032-33). If this is what the Hurricanes can expect from him moving forward—not to this extent, but playing at a top-pairing level—they have their Slavin replacement. In an ironic twist, New York Rangers fans were right: last summer’s trade was a fleecing.

Jarvis Will Soon Be the Face of the Hurricanes

Finally, we have Seth Jarvis. The 24-year-old forward is having a modest playoff run by his standards, with three goals and five assists in 13 contests. Still, anyone who has watched him knows the talent level. Soon, he will be the Hurricanes’ top player—a true superstar, potentially.

Again, Jarvis hasn’t put up the explosive numbers that he’s used to in these playoffs, but his skill is undeniable. When he gets space and time, Jarvis has proven to be one of the most lethal scorers in the NHL. He’s had three consecutive 30-goal, 30-assist seasons despite missing time—the offense is certainly high-end.

Undermining his offensive impact, however, is his completeness. Jarvis’ chance prevention over the past few seasons rivals the best defensive forwards in the game. Only a select few players can be elite at both ends of the ice simultaneously, and the Hurricanes have one of them in Jarvis. He will soon be the face of this team.

What makes Carolina fascinating is that it isn’t like other contenders. This team has the talent today to hoist the Stanley Cup, yet its top contributors are young enough to run it back again, and again, and again. The new core is taking form.

Stats courtesy of Evolving-Hockey