After a quiet few weeks, the Carolina Hurricanes have returned back to Raleigh, North Carolina, with last-minute offseason news changing fan anticipation for the next hockey season. As the organization completes their final prospect game on September 16, training camp officially begins on September 18 with team physicals and player meetings. Training camp extends until October 10, with practices and morning skates available to the media. The Hurricanes preseason begins September 24 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
As the season prepares to begin again, here are some major updates from the organization for September.
The Seth Jarvis Effect
The wait is over.
Superstar Seth Jarvis has made his return to the Canes, with the 22-year-old forward inking a groundbreaking eight-year deal on August 31. Jarvis was one of the top RFAs on the market this offseason and one of the top performers on an already-talented Hurricanes offense last season.
The deal was a stunner, not because of the length, but because of deferred money. The salary cap hit is lower overall because of deferred money in the contract. In his first press conference since the deal was inked, Jarvis described the contract as “having to be broken down for (me)… (I) had no idea what it meant.”
The contract total will be approximately 63 million US dollars by the time the eight years finishes.
At 22 and going into his third NHL season, Jarvis is a first-line player, along with Hurricanes stars Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. The extension continues the SAJ trio’s run as the faces of the franchise, with all three being drafted to the organization and central parts of the Hurricanes core.
Jarvis has been a fan-favorite player throughout the NHL and has brought national attention onto the Hurricanes due to his authenticity and interview soundbites. When announcing the deal, the Hurricanes Twitter account posted, “Eight more years at Jarvard. Never graduate.” (The viral joke stems from teammate and Harvard alumni Jack Drury gifting Jarvis a “Harvard Alumni” t-shirt. Jarvis cut the sleeves off and wears the shirt for postgame interviews.)
Jarvis also told reporters that he did not need surgery or further medical attention for an injured shoulder initially reported on in May.
PTO Contracts and Injury Reports
September marks the month of Professional Tryout Contracts (PTOs), where older veterans and free agents in need of a team are signed to a twenty-five game contract, most often during preseason.
The Hurricanes traditionally add their PTO players before the start of training camp. As of September 14, the only rumored PTO signed to the organization is Sam Gagner. A former Edmonton Oiler, Gagner played 28 games in the Oilers organization last season. Gagner’s progression is one for Hurricanes fans to keep an eye on, as Carolina lacks center depth. There is a slim chance that Gagner could fill that fourth-line role during training camp and onward.
There are no other rumored or confirmed Hurricanes PTO at this time.
Veteran Hurricanes right-winger Jesper Fast had undergone neck surgery, the organization announced on August 29. Fast sustained the injury during the final 2023-2024 regular season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He will be out for the entire 2024-2025 season.
Goaltender Antti Raanta is also leaving the Hurricanes organization and the NHL. Raanta had been goaltending as a Hurricane since 2021, with an overall record on the team of 46-15-9. His final season in Raleigh concluded with a stint in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves.
Goodbye PNC Arena, Hello Lenovo Center
In another offseason shock for the Hurricanes, the Centennial Authority voted to rename PNC Arena to Lenovo Center.
The Centennial Authority is a North Carolina General Assembly created board who own the Raleigh-based arena and the surrounding property. The board voted on September 12 to officially change the name.
Rumors of the arena’s name change began circulating on X (formerly known as Twitter) last week after the release of NHL25, where Hurricanes fans noticed the name change in the game. Within days, all PNC Bank branding was removed from the arena’s exterior.
In a press release given by Centennial Authority Chairman Philip Isley, the name change’s reason is as given: “This partnership is about more than just re-naming the arena. Lenovo will play a vital role integrating technology into our upcoming arena renovations and enhancements. Lenovo has deep roots in North Carolina, and (we’re) thrilled that they are strengthening those roots with this naming rights agreement.”
Lenovo has ten-year naming rights to the arena, and has been a sponsor of the Hurricanes since 2010.
PNC Bank will remain a major sponsor of the organization, maintaining naming rights to the arena’s club level.
Major arena and surrounding area renovations – entitled “The Raleigh Sports and Entertainment District” – have been in the works this offseason. Phase 1 of the plan will be coming into place next December.
ITR 35: Round One – Inside The Rink
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