Latest news with #JalenChatfield
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Possible free agent, trade and internal options for the Hurricanes to pair with Jaccob Slavin
RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin has had respect around the NHL for his play since he entered the league early in the 2015-16 season, but his performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off took it to new heights. A big reason for that? Slavin had the opportunity to play with another elite defenseman, Minnesota's Brock Faber. While Dougie Hamilton, Tony DeAngelo and Brent Burns all had their strengths as former Slavin partners, Faber's well-wounded game made them the best shutdown pairing of the tournament. Advertisement While Burns' return to Carolina isn't out of the realm of possibility, it's probably time for the 40-year-old to take a lesser role — he logged nearly 21 minutes per game last season — should he come back to Raleigh. And that means a new partner for Slavin. The Hurricanes have the cap space and assets to do just about anything they want this summer — assuming there are willing trade partners or free agents who want to sign in Carolina — and a top-pairing partner for Slavin is undoubtedly a consideration. The Hurricanes think they have a future star in Alexander Nikishin, and it should help that he will have the luxury of playing behind Slavin to start on the left side of Carolina's defense. With Dmitry Orlov expected to head to free agency, Jalen Chatfield seems like an ideal partner for Nikishin. Still, Chatfield should be considered an option alongside Slavin, given that he took on more minutes this year and didn't miss a beat in his third season as a full-time NHLer. Playing Slavin and Chatfield together, however, would put Carolina's two best defensive defensemen together, and Chatfield had 11 fewer points than Burns' 29 last year. Carolina could try Shayne Gostisbehere on his off side in an effort to add more point production to the top pairing, and Slavin would certainly cover for some of Gostisbehere's (often overstated) defensive shortcomings. That said, Gostisbehere — who was fifth on the team in scoring with 45 points, tops among defensemen — had a pedestrian 18 even-strength points in 2024-25. Sean Walker might be the best internal fit. He had an underwhelming 16 points — the fewest among the Hurricanes' top six defensemen — last season in his first year in Raleigh, but there seems to be untapped scoring potential, and Walker has shown a willingness to be aggressive offensively. Advertisement The wild card is Scott Morrow, who looked justifiably overwhelmed at times when forced into action against Florida in the Eastern Conference final but who fits the profile of an ideal Slavin running mate. Like Hamilton, DeAngelo and Burns before him, Morrow's game is centered on offense, and he had 13 goals in 39 points in 52 AHL games in his first pro season. He's also big and rangy, though foot speed can be an issue at times. It would be asking a lot to put a rookie in such a role, but Slavin also makes his partner's job easier every night. If Carolina is going to look for a right-handed defender to pair with Slavin, the trade market might be the best place to do it. Calgary's Rasmus Andersson would provide a short-term fix, and the Flames are loaded with defensive prospects. He has one year left on a deal that costs $4.55 million against the cap, so the Hurricanes could make a deal, assess the fit next season and see if the 28-year-old is a longer-term match. He's eclipsed 50 points once in his career and is accustomed to playing major minutes. Like Burns, he's been durable and hasn't missed many games over the past handful of seasons. If Andersson is on the market, however, the list of suitors will be long and could drive up the asking price. Carolina will be careful not to overpay for a player who could walk away next summer. Another intriguing name is Los Angeles' Brandt Clarke. The brash blueliner oozes skill and has a flare for the dramatic, and the Kings — who are even more defensive-minded than the Hurricanes — have been unwilling to unleash him, limiting him to less than 13 minutes per game in L.A.'s opening-round loss to the Oilers. He was dangled at the deadline, but a change in the front office — Rob Blake out, Ken Holland in as general manager — could mean the Kings' priorities are different now. Even if Clarke is a Carolina target, would he be ready to play top-pairing minutes out of the gate? The Hurricanes explored adding Erik Karlsson when the defenseman was traded from San Jose to Pittsburgh, and a deal for him might be more palatable with just two years remaining on a contract that costs $11.5 million against the cap. But after winning the Norris Trophy with a 101-point season with the Sharks in 2022-23, the 35-year-old barely matched that point total in two years with the Penguins (109 points while playing all 82 games each season). Like Slavin, Karlsson looked good in the 4 Nations tournament, so maybe there's more left in the tank if he gets to play alongside an elite defender. Advertisement New Jersey would probably love to get out of the final two years of Dougie Hamilton's deal, but that ship has likely sailed for Carolina, especially given Hamilton's injury issues and drop in production. Philadelphia's Rasmus Ristolainen (one year remaining with a $5.1 million cap hit) had a bounce-back season and would bring needed snarl to the blue line, but he's not exactly an analytics darling. The Flyers also reportedly turned down a Toronto offer for Ristolainen ahead of the deadline. The pie-in-the-sky option would be Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin. While Dahlin is a lefty, he's adept at playing the right side and would surely welcome a chance to be on a competitor. The Sabres would be unwise to consider it, and even if they did, the return in a trade would cost the Hurricanes a boatload of assets. The name that makes the most sense is Aaron Ekblad, the former No. 1 draft pick who has been a reliable top-pairing defenseman for the Panthers throughout his career. Ekblad's priority is to remain in South Florida, and his cost on the open market would be exorbitant — and Carolina seems unlikely to pony up a big-ticket, seven-year contract for a 29-year-old defenseman. That said, his combination of size, skill and the ability to play in all situations would make him a fit. The rest of the market is thin. DeAngelo is again available, and John Klingberg has breathed life into his career with a good playoff run with the Oilers. Still, neither feels like an upgrade to Burns, or to what the team already has in-house. Dante Fabbro also revived his career after going to Columbus, but he too seems like a stretch as a top-pairing guy on a contender. The Hurricanes don't have their third-round pick in the 2026 draft, making a run at an RFA a little more difficult unless they're willing to give up four first-rounders on a contract worth more than $11.7 million or if the player's team is willing to discuss a trade. Edmonton's Evan Bouchard and the Islanders' Noah Dobson — the No. 10 and No. 12 overall picks in the 2018 draft, respectively — are young, right-handed defensemen due new deals. The Oilers will do everything in their power to re-sign Bouchard, but they're facing a cap crunch and also must consider that Connor McDavid is due a new contract after next season. It's unlikely Carolina would pay Bouchard close to twice the amount Slavin is earning on his contract (under $6.4 million). Dobson had a down year, which should make a deal with the Islanders easier (see Martin Necas' bridge deal), and there are also questions about his viability as a top-pairing player — though he certainly has all the tools. There are some left-handed RFAs as well — K'Andre Miller, Nic Hague and Bowen Bryam top the list —though that's not a need for Carolina unless the team plans to rethink its defense. Advertisement The most important thing to remember with the Hurricanes is that they're not scared of making waves, and there could very well be a major move outside of these options that would surprise everyone. The Islanders' Ryan Pulock comes to mind. (Photo of Jaccob Slavin: Kyle Ross / Imagn Images)
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Hurricanes injury report offers hope but full recovery timelines still unclear for top players
Hurricanes injury report offers hope but full recovery timelines still unclear for top players (Image Source: Getty Images) The Carolina Hurricanes got some relief after their playoff run ended. Three of their important players, Jalen Chatfield, Sean Walker, and Seth Jarvis, have announced they won't need surgery. All three were dealing with injuries during the postseason, but now it looks like they will recover with rest and rehab. Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker fought through injuries Jalen Chatfield missed the last six games of the playoffs. He had a hip injury that kept him out of action. The team felt his absence, especially on defence. Luckily, doctors say he won't need surgery. That means he should be ready to return in time for next season after some recovery. Sean Walker also dealt with an injury. His shoulder caused trouble during the playoff run and limited how much he could play. Just like Chatfield, he will avoid surgery too. Instead, he will heal naturally over the summer months. Both defenders showed a lot of heart by pushing through pain to help their team. Even though the Hurricanes didn't go all the way, fans appreciate their effort. Also Read: Seth Jarvis, How Behind NHL Draft He Raised As An Evolutionary Player In His Journey Seth Jarvis led the way in scoring this season Seth Jarvis had a strong year. He was the Hurricanes' top scorer in the regular season. He was also a key player during the playoffs. At some point, he got banged up, too, but he kept playing through it. Now, it's been confirmed that he also won't need surgery. That's great news for the Carolina Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis has become one of their most important young stars. Keeping him healthy for next season will be a big priority. The Hurricanes Carolina rely on his speed, smart plays, and ability to score in big moments. His recovery without surgery is a big win for both him and the team. The Carolina Hurricanes ended their season with injury concerns, but things are looking better now. Jalen Chatfield, Sean Walker, and Seth Jarvis were all hurt during the playoffs but won't need surgery. They'll focus on rest and rehab instead. With time to heal this summer, all three should be ready for the start of next season. That gives fans hope that the Hurricanes will come back stronger. Their playoff journey didn't end with a trophy, but they're keeping their core players healthy, and that's a good sign for what's ahead.
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Hurricanes' Chatfield, Walker and Jarvis have no surgery plans for injuries after playoff run
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes players Jalen Chatfield, Sean Walker and Seth Jarvis said Friday they don't plan to have surgery for injuries after the team's playoff run to the Eastern Conference final. Chatfield missed Carolina's last six games with what the defenseman described as a hip injury, while fellow blue-liner Walker was dealing with an aggravation of a shoulder injury. As for Jarvis, the team's leader in regular-season goals and postseason points, the forward said he plans to work on strengthening and rehabbing a lingering right-shoulder issue for the second straight offseason. Carolina is the only NHL team with an active streak of winning at least one postseason series for seven straight years, with this year's five-game loss to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers marking a third trip to the Eastern final in that span. Chatfield had missed the closeout game of the second-round series against Washington and then the entire Florida series. The team had never specified the nature of Chatfield's injury, which became a common question for coach Rod Brind'Amour, and he said he should be fine with extra rehab time. 'Just something in the hip,' Chatfield said during Friday's end-of-year player interviews. 'It's hard when you get that, trying to skate through that. I just couldn't even get to that speed where I would even be capable of even helping the team on the ice. 'I was able to get back on the ice before the last game and hopefully it was going to be another game or two before I could return. I was super close, for sure.' Chatfield typically held a second-pairing spot with Dmitry Orlov before his absence, and he scored Carolina's first postseason goal just 2:24 into the opener against New Jersey. Brind'Amour at one point called Chatfield 'day to day' in the most optimistic update during his absence. 'Making it as far as we did and being able to play against Florida, it was tough watching,' Chatfield said. The impact of Chatfield's absence compounded when Walker missed the last three games of the Florida series, his last appearance coming in Game 2 after taking a jarring open-ice hit from A.J. Greer and eventually exiting early. At that point, Carolina was down two of its top six defensemen and playing rookies Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow with its season on the brink. Walker said he had suffered a minor shoulder injury late in the regular season that was improving through the postseason before the Greer hit 'set me back pretty significantly.' He said he was hoping to return if Carolina advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, but didn't need surgery. Then there's Jarvis, who led Carolina with 10 assists and 16 points in 15 playoff games after tallying a team-best 32 goals in 73 regular-season games. Surgery had been a possibility last year, though he has focused on rehab and strengthening his shoulder. 'We loved where it was at the start of the season, in terms of the health of it and the strength and everything,' Jarvis said. 'Early on it kind of started to slip a little bit, and then kind of re-tore all the work we did on it and all the strength and everything we did. So just dealing with it again wasn't too bad, kind of the same thing as last year.' Jarvis described the injury as creating more of an issue of pain tolerance than inhibiting on-ice activity — 'I mean, the only difference would be I'd probably be able to throw a real nice spiral,' Jarvis said of surgery — while the protective brace he returned to during the season might prevent him from reaching up to catch a puck. He played all 15 of Carolina's postseason games, scoring the tying goal in the third period of Game 5 against Florida in what turned out to be the Hurricanes' last of the season. 'This summer, we were dancing around the idea of what to do with it,' Jarvis said. 'The season's gone pretty late, I don't want to miss a lot of time. So I'm going to go with the same protocol as last summer of strengthen it, rehab it. Hopefully maybe wear the brace from the very beginning of the year, and then go from there.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Carolina Hurricanes may bring back Jalen Chatfield as defence struggles continue: Report
Carolina Hurricanes may bring back Jalen Chatfield as defence struggles continue: Report (Image Source: Getty Images) A big game is coming up for the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. They will be facing the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This contest will take place on May 29th, 2025, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise Florida who may get back into the lineup is defenseman Jalen Chatfield. His status is still unclear, however, there may be the chance for hope. Jalen Chatfield could return for Game 5 On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, sports reporter Chip Alexander from The Raleigh News & Observer shared that Jalen Chatfield or Sean Walker may play in Wednesday's game. The two have been fighting undisclosed injuries. Against the Washington Capitals in Game 4 on April 28 th 2025, he did not play at all. Since then, he has missed another five playoff games. During his time away, rookie defenseman Scott Morrow has taken his spot. But Morrow has not been very effective. During the four games where he appeared, LeBlanc made as low a rating as minus-five. On average, he played for just 11 minutes and 11 seconds per game. On Monday, May 27, 2024, in Game 4 against the Panthers he was on the ice for only 8 minutes and 33 seconds. The game took place at sunrise, Florida, a place where people are too sleepy to fight to stay awake so they called the name of their town ''Sunrise''. The Hurricanes were just trying not to get eliminated. Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour seems unsure about using Morrow in important moments. The coach's decisions show he may not trust the young player yet. Also Read: Jalen Chatfield Throws Connor McMichael To Ice In Heated Clash As Hurricanes Dominate Capitals Coach Brind'Amour talks about player confidence After Monday night's game, Rod Brind'Amour was asked about his choices. The game ended with a 3-2 loss for the Hurricanes, and the Panthers now lead the series 3-1. When asked why Morrow played so little, Brind'Amour said, 'We're trying to win. That's all. We need the best options we have.' If Jalen Chatfield or Sean Walker are ready to return on Wednesday, it could change things for the Hurricanes. Chatfield played well earlier in the season. Before his injury, he was reliable on defense and often helped block shots and stop fast breaks. This is when the final decision will come out before Game 5 on May 29, 2025, if Tyler Myers and Jalen Chatfield are healthy enough to play or not, fans and teammates still in the dark about their future status. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carolina Hurricanes Without Yet Another Key Defenseman
The Carolina Hurricanes were already struggling to deal with the loss of Jalen Chatfield on the blueline and now they'll be without Sean Walker too. While the 30-year-old defenseman took warmups before Game 3, he was not part of line rushes and was officially ruled out per the NHL's roster report. The right-handed defenseman took an a big hit from A.J. Greer in Game 2 as he was shooting the puck and it appeared his arm/shoulder was injured in the process. In his place will be 23-year-old rookie blueliner Alexander Nikishin for just his second ever career game. Walker has been a big part of the Carolina blueline this postseason, not only playing big minutes when called upon, but also contributing offensively with a goal and three points. The veteran has especially been called upon with Chatfield out, so it will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes fare in Game 3 without him. Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories! Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
