Preseason Preview: September 24 vs. Florida

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers for their annual Community Preseason Game at Lenovo Center on Wednesday.

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When: Wednesday, September 24

Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. ET

Watch: Hurricanes.com | (Please note that the stream will be geo-restricted to those in the Raleigh and Florida broadcast markets.)

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Last Game...

• Logan Stankoven netted the lone goal for the Canes as they opened up preseason play with a tight 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay at Lenovo Center on Monday.
• Tending the twine for the first time as a Hurricane, Cayden Primeau stopped 18 of 20 shots in the contest.

Raising Up For The Community...

• It's expected to be a full house tonight at 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., as the Canes welcome fans in mostly general admission seating for just $10. All ticket revenue from the event will directly benefit local nonprofits and community programs.
• Canes Give Back donated a record $1.7 million during the 2024-25 season, the most impactful year to date. To learn more, click here.

Veteran Rule...

• As a reminder, NHL teams must dress at least eight “veterans” in each preseason contest. “Veterans” are skaters who played 30 NHL games the previous season, goalies who dressed in 50 NHL games or played in 30 NHL games the previous year, any player who has played 100+ NHL games, or a current year first-round pick.
• Tonight's group features a heavy mix of veterans, with nine players who appeared in at least one game for the Canes last year and a total of 13 that played in the NHL during the 2024-25 campaign.

Debutants...

• Offseason splash signing Nikolaj Ehlers is set to make his Canes' preseason debut tonight, one of five players pulling the jersey over their head for game action for the first time.
• That includes a pair of second-round selections in Dominik Badinka (2024) and Ivan Ryabkin (2025), who both laced up their skates for last week's Prospects Showcase but are slated to make their NHL preseason debuts.

In Net...

• After Cayden Primeau took the reins in the preseason opener with Ruslan Khazheyev backing him up, Canes fans will see at least one of Frederik Andersen or Amir Miftakhov this evening.
• Miftakhov, 25, inked a one-year deal with the Canes in July after recording a .926 SV% with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL last season. A sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020, Miftakhov spent the 2021-22 campaign in North America with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) and Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL).

Injury Updates

• Defenseman Jaccob Slavin skated for the first time in training camp on Sept. 22. He has been dealing with "soreness". Rod Brind'Amour said on Sept. 21 that the defender may not play in preseason games.
• Defenseman Jalen Chatfield did not practice on Saturday or Sunday due to a minor injury of his own. Like Slavin, Brind'Amour said he would not be concerned if Chatfield does not play in any preseason games.
• Forward Juha Jaaska has been dealing with a "minor injury" since Sept. 21. He is considered day-to-day.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes are scheduled to wear their new white uniforms for all six preseason games.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes are set to resume practicing in two groups on Thursday. They'll then take a group of players to Benchmark International Arena for a Friday night meeting with the Lightning.
• Next Game: Friday, Sept. 26 at Tampa Bay | 7:00 p.m. ET | Watch Live on Hurricanes.com
• Next Home Game: Sunday, Sept. 28 vs. Nashville | 7:00 p.m. ET | Tickets | Parking