For the last 23 years (13 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 24th annual review will appear here on Dobber Hockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what we take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

Pick up the DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated

Gone – Mike Reilly, Frederik Andersen

Incoming – None

Impact of changes

The Hurricanes didn't have much work to do this offseason after winning the Stanley Cup, and their approach reflects that. Carolina has largely decided to run back the same roster that just won the championship. The only notable departures are Frederik Andersen and Mike Reilly, with the Hurricanes not bringing in any outside NHL players to replace them. Andersen leaves for Edmonton after playing a major role in Carolina's championship run, going 13-2 with a 1.89 GAA and .910 SV% during the playoffs. His regular-season numbers were less impressive, but his postseason performance showed how important he was when it mattered most. The good news is Carolina already has an internal replacement in Brandon Bussi, who took over for Andersen during the Stanley Cup Final and won the final three games. Bussi finished the regular season 31-6-2, although his .895 SV%  which do raise some questions heading into his first season as a potential No. 1. Bussi will likely split the crease with Pyotr Kochetkov, giving Carolina a younger tandem but also more uncertainty in net. On defense, Mike Reilly's departure isn't nearly as significant. He was mainly a depth option and played 42 games last season, so his minutes should be replaced internally. The bigger situation to watch is Alexander Nikishin, who had an impressive rookie season with 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games but remains an unsigned RFA. If Carolina gets him under contract, the blue line should remain one of the team's biggest strengths.

Ready for Full Time – Bradly Nadeau

Nadeau was Carolina’s first-round pick in 2023 and has already shown that he can dominate the AHL. He finished the 2025-26 season with 56 points in 52 games, including 27 goals, while also appearing in 12 games with Carolina. The issue is opportunity. Nadeau may be one of the organization’s top prospects but there isn’t necessarily a clear scoring-line opening for him. That could change quickly with injuries as he is the prospect I would watch most closely.

Fantasy Takeaway

The biggest fantasy assets remain Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis and Nikolaj Ehlers, with Aho continuing to be the safest option of the group. Aho has consistently been a 30-goal, 80-point player when healthy, and Carolina's system continues to give its top players plenty of offensive opportunities. Andrei Svechnikov remains a strong fantasy option because of his goal-scoring upside, although consistency continues to be the biggest issue. He has shown stretches where he looks like a 40-goal scorer, but he hasn't been able to turn that potential into a full season of elite production.

Seth Jarvis is another important piece of Carolina's top six, but his availability is something to watch after undergoing shoulder surgery in June. He is expected to miss at least the first month of the season, which could create more opportunities for the rest of the top six such as Nikolaj Ehlers, Jackson Blake, Logan Stankoven and veteran Taylor Hall even if its short term. The Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov tandem could work well, as both will be competing for the majority of the starts. Kochetkov has shown flashes of being a quality NHL starter but has yet to establish himself as a reliable No. 1. The good news is Carolina remains an excellent environment for its goalies. A strong defense and a team that should contend for the Metropolitan Division means whoever wins the majority of the starts should have plenty of opportunities for wins. The Hurricanes have a strong collection of players up front and on the back end, and if Bussi and Kochetkov can hold their own, Carolina should once again be a strong fantasy team.

Fantasy Grade: A- (Last year: B+)

Check out the rest of the Dobber team previews here.