Hurricanes Week Ahead: Schedule and Storylines – Medaillehaul, Bussi Extension, Rumor Mill and More – The Hockey Writers Carolina Hurricanes Latest News, Analysis and More

Here are the top storylines surrounding the Carolina Hurricanes and a look at their upcoming schedule as the NHL resumes play after the break from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Olympic medal harvest

The biggest storyline going back into NHL play is the success of Hurricanes players at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Jaccob Slavin secured a gold medal with Team USA after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Team Canada. Seth Jarvis took silver for the Canadians, while Sebastian Aho captured bronze with Team Finland.

Extension by Brandon Bussi

During the Olympic break, the Hurricanes locked up rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi to a three-year, $5.7 million contract extension ($1.9 million average annual value/AAV). Bussi was a revelation at the crease, posting an 8-2-0 record in his last 10 starts before the hiatus and ending the first half of the season with a shutout of the New York Rangers.

The looming trade deadline

The NHL Olympic roster freeze has officially been lifted and general manager (GM) Eric Tulsky is expected to be aggressive ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. After missing out on Artemi Panarin (who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings), rumors suggest the front office is intensively scouring the market for a second-line center to bolster their roster for a deep playoff run.

Speculation is rife and unsubstantiated rumors have linked the Canes to almost everyone said to be on the market, from former players Dougie Hamilton and Jeff Skinner to Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames and Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens.

Top of the East

The Hurricanes enter the postbreak portion of the season as one of the best teams in the NHL. They currently have a record of 36-15-6 and were on a 10-game points streak before the break, which tied them with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Upcoming schedule

The Hurricanes’ schedule resumes with high stakes immediately after the start. After a two-week break, their first matchup will be a heavyweight matchup on February 26 against the Tampa Bay Lightning – the exact team they are currently tied with for first place in the Eastern Conference. After a home game against the Detroit Red Wings, they immediately head to the West Coast to begin a multi-game road trip starting in Seattle.

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