Carolina Hurricanes’ 2025-26 Regular Season Team Awards

Some wondered where he could fit within the top six and on special teams, more so the top power-play unit. In the end, he had 10 power-play goals, second on the team, and did his most damage on the shutdown line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. He managed all of this in the first year of his six-year, $51 million deal. Ehlers has more than earned his $8.5 million per year contract.

Ehlers’ speed, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, one-man zone entry, etc., are off the charts. People have said for a while that the Hurricanes needed a skilled player. Safe to say they got one in Ehlers. Some even wondered if his skill set could fit in Carolina since people always wanted to point out how skilled guys don’t thrive in Rod Brind’Amour’s system. Ehlers has now officially put that to bed. For what he’s done in his first season, it’ll be interesting to see what he does over the next five in Raleigh.

Best Defensemen: Alexander Nikishin

When it came to the Best Defensemen Award, this one was tough, too, since the blue line got decimated this season due to injuries. From missing Jaccob Slavin for over half a season’s worth of games to Shayne Gostisbehere being out four separate times, it was dire straits on the defense. There is a huge argument for Sean Walker to win the award after being the only player to stay healthy on the blue line. Knock on wood. He also had a career season in his second year in Carolina. Even Gostisbehere could have an argument after tallying 50 points in 55 games.

In the end, the award goes to Russian defenseman Alexander Nikishin. On and off the ice, it was a learning curve for the first full season defenseman on the Hurricanes. While dealing with a new league and system, he had to learn a new language and culture. While managing all of that, he tallied 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games. His 33 points put him first in Hurricanes history, since relocation, for points by a rookie defenseman.

Not only that, he led the team with a plus-18 on the season. That’s an impressive feat to lead the team in plus/minus in his first full season in the league. He had four power-play goals and 10 power-play points, while being the only rookie defenseman to score a shorthanded goal. He is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA), who is arbitration eligible, after the season. There is a foregone conclusion that he will get an extension. If he can manage this in his first season, there’s no telling where his ceiling is in the NHL. It also helps that he is only 24 years old and hasn’t hit his prime yet.

Breakout Player: Jackson Blake

When talking about breakout players, this one was simpler. After scoring 17 goals and tallying 34 points in his rookie season, Jackson Blake followed that up with 22 goals, 31 assists, and 53 points. Blake managed to score four power-play goals, tallying 12 power-play points on the second unit, while also scoring three game-winning goals throughout the season. He also had a career high of 16:30 of average ice time, and played the whole season on the second line.

While playing in one more game, he managed to jump from 19 points in his rookie season to his sophomore season in the NHL. The thing that gives a ton of room for Blake to hit star status is that he is only 22 years old. He is still a couple of seasons from hitting his prime, and his skillset is already showing that there is room to grow. His stick handling is already in elite form, and he is not afraid to crash the net to get in the dirty areas in front of the goal.

If there is one player to keep an eye on over the next eight seasons, thanks to his eight-year extension he signed last summer, Blake is one to watch. He will be making $5.117 million through the 2033-34 season, and that doesn’t kick in until next summer. Even then, it’s already looking like a steal for the Hurricanes.

Biggest Surprise: Jordan Staal

Last but not least, the biggest surprise of the 2025-26 season. Taylor Hall took the honors last season after being part of the three-team trade in January 2025. This season, it goes to the captain Jordan Staal, who showed up hugely offensively for Brind’Amour’s Hurricanes. For the first time since 2015-16, Staal scored 20 goals in a season, while finishing with 36 points in back-to-back seasons. Staal was the seventh player to score 20 or more goals for the Hurricanes this season, a new franchise record since relocation.

Staal is not known for scoring goals, tallying 10 and 13 in the last two seasons after having back-to-back 17-goal seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. After being placed on the power play as a help for obtaining possession on faceoffs, the power play exploded to finish in the top five in the NHL, and Staal’s numbers increased significantly. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, he had one power-play goal, total. In 2025-26, he had four. The last time he had four or more was the seven he scored in 2020-21.

If there was someone who deserved the biggest surprise award, it would go to Staal. What a season for the captain, who is 37 years old and deserves to be in consideration for the Selke Trophy.

On a team full of players who deserve an award, what a 2025-26 season it was for the Hurricanes. They are heading to their eighth straight playoffs under Brind’Amour and have the first seed for the first time. Their record 291 goals in a season showed how much this team is pulling on the rope. This could be the deepest team in the last eight seasons, and there are scoring threats all over the lineup. After what they did in the regular season, now the trust test begins on Saturday for Game 1 of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.