RALEIGH, N.C. - 17 players who appeared in the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup-clinching Game 6 victory in June will look to help their club start the new season with a win against the Florida Panthers this evening.
Amid Seth Jarvis' ongoing recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, Eric Robinson looks likely to get first crack at his spot alongside Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. The 31-year-old put up eight points in 19 games during the summer's championship run – including a team-leading three goals during the Eastern Conference Final – while thriving on a momentum-creating line with Mark Jankowski and William Carrier.
In turn, Nicolas Deslauriers will slot into Robinson's previous role, introducing a healthy dose of sandpaper into tonight's tilt between the last two Cup champs.
"It's a pretty easy decision," said Rod Brind'Amour of the choice to ice No. 44. "Obviously, we know what Florida brings. They're a bigger team, and he's one of the stronger guys on our team, so I think it's a good spot to throw him in there."
On the blue line, the lone question mark through camp was the spot next to Shayne Gostisbehere. Tonight, you'll find Charles Alexis Legault stationed there, leveling out the team's defense pairings with three right-handed and three left-handed shots.
After logging 12 outings with the Canes in 2025-26, Legault showcased his physical style of play during preseason action, including dropping the gloves against Florida's Brady Tkachuk in the teams' exhibition opener.
"That was one of those decisions we had to make coming into camp. We know we do like the righty/lefty [pairings]. That's a big deal," said Brind'Amour. "I think it just helps, and it helps that Charles is a big guy that can skate... I think we'll see how this goes, and hopefully it sticks, but we've got a lot of good options if it doesn't."
After putting a bow on his preseason with a 22-save shutout in Nashville on Sunday, Brandon Bussi will tend the twine against the Cats. The 28-year-old had a fairy-tale 2025-26 season, which began with him being claimed off waivers from Florida the first week of October. Earning his playing time in net, he went on to be a rock for the unit the whole way, going 31-6-2 in his first full NHL season. He even stood tall between the pipes with a shutout in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final – just his third appearance of the postseason.
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Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Robinson - Aho - Svechnikov
Hall - Stankoven - Blake
Ehlers - Staal - Martinook
Carrier - Jankowski - Deslauriers
Defense
Slavin - Chatfield
Miller - Walker
Gostisbehere - Legault
Starting Goaltender
Bussi
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Injuries
Seth Jarvis
Scratches
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Mike Reilly
Cayden Primeau
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PP1: Aho, Blake, Ehlers (Staal), and Svechnikov with Gostisbehere
PP2: Ehlers, Hall, Jankowski (Staal), and Stankoven with Miller
Jordan Staal has been taking the faceoffs to start most power plays. If he wins it, he'll stay on the ice. When the puck comes out of the zone, he jumps off, and Nikolaj Ehlers jumps on with the first unit. When with the second unit, Mark Jankowski jumps on when Staal goes off.
