Although there will be Carolina Hurricanes hockey on Monday 22 September, we are still 17 days away from the beginning of the 2025-26 season. There are already many storylines during the first few days of training camp. One that is not discussed enough is how Forward Jackson Blake has another mindset in his second season with the team after a Rookie season that saw him score 17 goals and register 34 points. After the Gameday group had their morning skate, The hockey writers Was able to sit with Blake for a few minutes to get his opinion about his summer, the coming second season and his future in Raleigh.
Relief to stay in Raleigh in the long term
After signing his Eight years, $ 5.12 million Annual average value extension (AAV) to stay in Raleigh until 2033-34, stated general manager Eric Tulsky: “Jackson had an excellent Rookie season and we think he just scratches the surface of the player he can be. His tenacity on the puck and competitiveness of our team and we are enthusiastic with our club.” There is absolutely excitement for the 22-year-old after his Rookie season.
When asked for signing his new expansion and knowing that he will be in Carolina for the next nine seasons, he stated: “It is very relief, I would say. The game is the game, and you have to strive to be the best, regardless of whether you have a deal or no more trust and it is a bit more trust and it is a bit more trust ‘
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Blake had a sense of relief that he made the team last season and finished the top 10 in goals and points for Rookies. This led him to signed his extension on 24 July. To go from a Hobey Baker -finalist with North Dakota to scoring 17 goals in his Rookie season is something to see for the young player, who just wants to continue to become.
Finding comfortable
What is Blake’s mentality when it comes to Comfortableey, what goes to season two? That is something to ask you for a player like Blake, who is going to try to make the hurricanes until now someone who is getting ready for the coming season and is a pillar for the coming years. When he was asked about his way of thinking and comfort by his second training camp, he said: “I think that last year I was of course my goal to make the team. I didn’t know if I would do that or not. It worked for the good of me. I think this year my way could be the best of the boys. Help the team win this year.”
It is fascinating to hear from a young player like Blake who changes his way of thinking from trying to simply make the hurricanes his skills for the 2025-26 season. The switch is absolutely different from man on a guy, but hearing Blake about how close the team is is how he just wants to get better, not only for himself, but also the team shows that he has a ton of maturity. He is on a similar path like Seth Javis from a few seasons earlier; He forced his way to the hurricanes and is now signed for the near future.
Early collection restaurants of the second training camp
During the first few days of the camp, Blake plays on the second line with Logan Stankoven and Andrei Svechnikov. Although he did not play with Stankhoven last season because he was on the wing compared to now the second line center that is in the camp early, he has some experience playing with the 25-year-old Russian. When he was asked for the first few days to play with smell and Svechnikov, he said: “I think that would be good for us to have him [Stankoven] Like a center. I think he is so good in the position. I and Svech last year got a few games and I thought we played largely well, of course with Fishy [Aho]. I like to play with those two, now Hallsy [Taylor Hall]. I think it will be great, I also played a bit with him. I am used to playing with Hallsy and Svech, whoever it is, but I am excited to play with Stanky. “
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It seems that Blake is just good with who he is. It is good for him to learn and play with boys like Aho, Svechnikov, Hall and now Stankhoven early in the camp. It has been a whirlwind for Blake for nine months since he became a member of the schedule. Although we are still a road from the beginning of the season, there is no doubt that, regardless of where Blake is played in the line -up, he will thrive there. There is a feeling that Blake will do everything that head coach Rod Brind’amour and the staff ask him to get better and better every day. Blake feels like he wants to take things with him every day and generally want to get better.
Loving raleigh
There is no doubt that there is a feeling about the team that boys like to play and live in Raleigh. From slavin and jalen chatfield who live there full -time to even alumni who also stay in the area, the area as a whole simply brings comfort and a feeling of love for the team and even the fans. When he was asked to be back in Raleigh after the summer in Minnesota, he said: “The boys are incredible and I come from Minnesota so the weather [in Raleigh] Is just incredible to me. To go outside in November and sometimes in December, it’s just a treat. I love that part about it, and the fans are great. So many nice restaurants, and so many good places to go, especially when my family is here. I have only been here for nine months, but I immediately fell in love here. “
The weather is definitely something to appreciate, especially the winters compared to Minnesota or even North Dakota, where he played university hockey. The abundant number of trees ensures that the area does not feel as large as a state capital, and the food scene in Raleigh is underestimated.
Not a target letter, but a team-first mentality
Although many players will set the team for themselves, there is a miracle or boys have their own goals to go for a season, big or small. Blake said: “I am not the biggest target letter, but I try to take it every day. But you know that last season is over, and I just want to take that next step, whatever that is. For me it is trying to offer a little more attacking for the group. I think I am a fairly offensive man, but it is a good year and just try to be better than the year before.”
There is a ton to like Blake when it comes to his mentality and how he wants to attack every season day after day and not want to touch too much for himself. He has a season under his belt, the water is touched as he said, but there is more to his game. If he can take the results of last season and build on it in the coming season, there is no doubt that he could be for a huge second -year campaign.
Although there are still six preseason games for the start of the 82 game marathon of the regular season, there is a lot to be enthusiastic about Blake. He looks ready to take his game to another level. Whether he plays on the second line with Svechnikov and Stankoven, or everywhere where Brind’amour and the staff have put him, there is a conviction that he will start it. If there is anyone to keep an eye on this coming season, it’s Jackson Blake.
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