Hurricanes’ Depth Will Be Tested Without Staal, Jarvis & Hall

The Carolina Hurricanes are firing on all cylinders after winning their last six games. They are 6-1-1 this season and about to begin a six-game road trip during the North Carolina State Fair. During that time, they will be without captain Jordan Staal, who is out for the next month or two due to a partially torn calf. They are still without Seth Jarvis as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery, and possibly Taylor Hall, who left the game early on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. That said, how will they navigate the upcoming road trip and more without those three in the lineup?

Navigating Without Staal, Jarvis, and Possibly Hall

The Hurricanes have won their last two games without Staal in the lineup against the Philadelphia Flyers (4-1) and the Capitals (4-2), but it’s some big shoes to fill without the Conn Smythe winner. Mark Jankowski has taken over the third-line center role over the last two games and has contributed in his absence. He is in the middle of a five-game goal streak.

With Jankowski moved up to the 3C slot, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has taken over the 4C role between Nic Deslauriers and Eric Robinson. So far, the Finnish forward has been playing well. He’s thrown the body some, been physical, and has tallied two assists through six games this season. After starting the 2026-27 season as the 14th forward, he’s stepped up when called upon. Now it’s about doing it consistently over the next few weeks with Staal out.

After the Staal news, the Hurricanes recalled Bradly Nadeau late Tuesday night from the Chicago Wolves. On Wednesday morning, the team made the call-up official. Last season, he finished with three goals in 12 games over two different call-up stints in the NHL. In four games with the Wolves this season, he has one goal. After his performance in the preseason and training camp, it was clear he could be the first call-up if there were an injury.

During the Hurricanes’ training camp, The Hockey Writers talked with the 20-year-old Canadian forward about jumping back and forth between the Hurricanes & the Wolves. He’s used to it but will be taking that same journey again with under 10 games in the season. “It was really good. Obviously, when you’re in Chicago, you know you have the guys there, and you’re comfortable with those guys. And when you get those call-ups, obviously, it’s always good to experience that.”

He continued, “Obviously, playing with skilled guys and stuff in the NHL. That’s when you realize it’s so important, without the puck, finding the space to get the puck, and even then only be in those good spots. So it’s always good to get those opportunities when you get called up; you try to take the most of it, and you always learn from every call-up that you get.”

The question is where the Hurricanes slot Nadeau into the lineup. With Hall out of the lineup, and no updates yet on how long, one option is to play him with Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven. It would be a great opportunity to have him play with two other guys who are 22 and 23 years old. It could be the “young guns line” with those three on the second line. Another option could be to slot him with Jankowski and Jordan Martinook on the third line. If there were two guys to learn the system from, get his feet wet, and not throw him into the fire right away, that line could work best.

There’s an idea of him playing on the second power play unit to get him acclimated to special teams without putting the pressure on him with the first unit. Either way, Nadeau will get his playing time. It’ll come down to what head coach Rod Brind’Amour and assistant coach Jeff Daniels come up with as a game plan for the young prospect.

However it plays out, the Hurricanes’ depth will be tested to continue the six-game winning streak without two, possibly three, forwards in the lineup. Last season, the team dealt with multiple defensemen out due to injuries; so far this season, the forwards are down three guys. It’ll be up to the depth to once again play a next-man-up mentality. With the Nadeau call-up, plus Jankowski and Kotkaniemi stepping into bigger roles, the Hurricanes will need to dig deep as they begin their six-game road trip on Saturday in Winnipeg.