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Published on:

4th Sep 2025

2025 NHL Summer Cooler - Carolina Hurricanes

In this Summer Coolers edition of NHL Wraparound, hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down the Carolina Hurricanes’ offseason, their consistent regular season success, and the lingering concerns that have prevented them from reaching the Stanley Cup Final—despite three Conference Final appearances in the last seven years.

The Canes finished second in the Metro Division with 99 points in 2024–25 and made quick work of New Jersey and Washington before falling to Florida in five games in the Eastern Conference Final—again.

Neil and Vic analyze the team’s latest acquisitions, including the high-profile signing of Nikolaj Ehlers from Winnipeg, and the trade for K’Andre Miller from the Rangers. They also examine what’s lost with the departures of Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, and Scott Morrow, and how the defense corps now leans heavily on Jacob Slavin, Alexander Nikishin, and Jalen Chatfield.

The episode also features a fascinating side story: Rod Brind’Amour’s son Skyler Brind’Amour and Keith Primeau’s son Caden Primeau are now teammates—23 years after their fathers were traded for each other.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Summer Coolers intro: Carolina Hurricanes outlook

[00:36] 2024–25 season recap: Regular season strong, playoffs stalled

[01:10] Forwards set: Ehlers, Aho, Jarvis, Svechnikov, Blake, Martinook

[02:00] Defense changes: Miller in, Burns, Orlov, and Morrow out

[03:00] K’Andre Miller’s fit and the high cost of acquisition

[03:43] Goaltending concerns: Freddie Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov, Caden Primeau

[05:00] Re-signings and RFA updates: Suzuki, Skyler Brind’Amour, Stan Coven

[06:00] The Brind’Amour–Primeau trade connection, 23 years later

[06:50] Jacob Slavin’s leadership and Shane Gostisbehere’s PP role

[08:00] Are the Hurricanes truly better than last year?

[09:00] Why Carolina dominates the regular season but stalls in May

[10:30] The need for playoff-style hockey to break through

[11:00] Final verdict: Metro favorite—but Cup contender?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Carolina remains one of the NHL’s most consistent regular-season teams, but hasn’t been able to convert that into a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Nikolaj Ehlers’ signing adds another skilled forward, but may not be enough to change the team’s playoff identity.

The defense is in transition, with Burns and Orlov gone and K’Andre Miller’s growth now a key variable.

Goaltending remains a concern, and a major question mark heading into 2025–26.

Carolina must learn to play playoff-style hockey earlier—and more consistently—if they hope to get over the hump.

RESOURCE LINKS:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787

#NHL #Hockey #Podcast #K'AndreMiller #NikolajEhlers #SebastianAho #AndreiSvechnikov #SethJarvis #JacksonBlake #TaylorHall #JordanMartinook #LoganStankoven #JordanStaal #K'AndreMiller #ScottMorrow #MikeReilly #CaydenPrimeau #SkylerBrind'Amour #FrederikAndersen #EricRobinson #RyanSuzuki #RodBrind'Amour #KeithPrimeau #BrentBurns #DmitryOrlov #PyotrKochetkov #AlexanderNikishin #JaccobSlavin #JalenChatfield #ShayneGostisbehere #SeanWalker #EricTulsky

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About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.