Yahoo Sports Projecting the Carolina Hurricanes 2024-25 Opening Night Roster: Forwards
The start of the NHL season is quickly approaching and this year's version of the Carolina Hurricanes is going to look quite different from year's past.
With the loss of long-time veterans such as Teuvo Teravainen as well as a few other free agency departures, there are opportunities for new players to step up and fill in those gaps.
Here's who I believe will be on the starting lineup come Oct. 11.
Be sure to check out out predictions for the starting lineup on defense and in goal too.
Related: Projecting the Carolina Hurricanes 2024-25 Opening Night Roster: Defense and Goaltending
Forwards
Top Line:
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Despite the loss of Jake Guentzel, the Canes still hold one of the best top threes in the league with the combination of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and the newly extended Seth Jarvis.
Aho and Jarvis are both coming off of career years while Svechnikov produced at nearly a point-per-game clip despite having to recover from ACL surgery.
The line has the perfect balance of skill and grind with three high-end, high-compete players.
I could see Rod Brind'Amour potentially breaking them up throughout the season to try and balance out his lineup a bit more, but I feel like the best bet would be to just load up at the top.
Second Line:
Bradly Nadeau - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Martin Necas
Despite his tough season last year, I still believe Kotkaniemi is not only the Canes' best option at 2C, but also that he can prove to be a valuable piece at that position.
Kotkaniemi proved that two seasons ago working between Svechnikov and Martin Necas, having had a career year that season.
It also goes to say that having talented players like Necas remain on his wing will also be a key factor.
Last season, the Hurricanes had an overabundance of talented wingers which forced a player like Necas down the lineup quite frequently, but with a new deal signed and perhaps a commitment from both sides to take another step forward, he should be a staple in the top-six.
Related: Hurricanes Re-Sign Martin Necas on Two-Year Deal
Finally, I think this could be where we potentially see a dark horse like Bradly Nadeau slot in.
I feel that Nadeau has the most NHL upside of the current prospect pool due to his high-end shot, so if he can have a good camp, the team should 100% give him the chance to run with some more offensively geared linemates.
Throughout the history of the league, too many prospects have been neutered by playing fourth line minutes with defensive grinders.
A player like Nadeau needs to play with linemates that can complement his game and this would be the best opportunity for him especially with the team needing a bit more offensive punch in the lineup.
Related: Which Carolina Hurricanes Prospects Could Make the Jump to the NHL This Year?
Third Line:
William Carrier - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook
With the loss of Jesper Fast, the prototypical Jordan Staal line is going to look a bit different this year, but William Carrier is the type of player that perfectly fits the mold of what Carolina is looking for from the line.
Carrier has never been one for offense, but he's a big-body (6-foot-2, 218lbs) defensive grinder that loves to play in the offensive zone and frustrate opponents.
Sound familiar?
Staal and Jordan Martinook are well known for playing that role too so Carrier shouldn't have any problems filling in on that line.
They're going to hit you, grind you and just frustrate the hell out of you.
That's their job and boy do I think they'll continue to do that job well.
Related: Hurricanes Sign William Carrier to Six-Year Deal
Fourth Line:
Jack Roslovic - Jack Drury - Tyson Jost
Rounding out the starting lineup will be a fourth line that could take on quite a few different looks depending on how training camp and preseason go.
The only thing I'm sure of, Jack Drury will be making the starting roster. He could be on the second line in place of Kotkaniemi as he was for many games throughout last season, but I still believe KK has a higher ceiling there.
Regardless, Drury has developed well into a dependable two-way player and he's had opportunity to play in both special teams scenarios as well.
He's a trusted piece of the group and no newcomers should be bumping him out of the lineup.
Related: Carolina Signs RFA Jack Drury to Two-Year Deal
Now how the rest of the line goes should be interesting.
Jack Roslovic is a player who has the pieces to be something more, but he hasn't been able to put them together throughout his career yet.
However, he's a solid NHLer and can provide some speed and and a bit of offense through his passing game to the bottom of the lineup.
After him, I'd give the edge to Tyson Jost.
Jost was a top-10 pick back in 2016, but despite that, he's never really lived up to that pedigree.
He's struggled to find an offensive game at the NHL level, but he has proven himself a bit better than the other options.
Jost has also developed well to focus on the defensive side of his game as well as being used in penalty kill situations in his other stops around the league.
All in all, a solid depth option.
Other potential options include:
Eric Robinson, a player with all the speed in the world but none of the finish, but that skating ability could be a benefit to the bottom of the lineup.
Brendan Lemieux, who's familiar with Carolina and its system and is probably the most apt to throw hits and drop the gloves should the Hurricanes feel the need for that in the lineup.
Extras: Jesper Fast*, Eric Robinson, Brendan Lemieux
*Injured, out for the season
