The Carolina Hurricanes swore this year would be different, yet it’s looking awfully identical to the team’s past Eastern Conference Final appearances in the NHL. The Florida Panthers are dismantling the Canes in the series, and head coach Rod Brind’Amour got something off his chest with a powerful comment about Sebastian Aho and the top players in Raleigh.
There’s little to no hope left for the Hurricanes. Carolina has run into a Florida lineup that, quite simply, looks faster, stronger, smarter, and hungrier for glory. All things considered, the Panthers look unstoppable, while the Hurricanes have struggled to keep up.
Back in the 2022-23 NHL season, the Hurricanes were swept by the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Back then, the Cats won every game by a one-goal margin in a series that could’ve gone either way. This time around, the Panthers are steamrolling the Canes night in and night out—three straight wins, each by at least a three-goal margin.
Carolina has no room for error. The Hurricanes are one loss away from their fourth consecutive stumble at the gates of the Stanley Cup Final. The previous three ended in humiliating fashion, as they were swept and have posted a 0–15 record in this stage since 2009.
Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes speaks with the media following the series win over the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Brind’Amour puts stars on notice
Brind’Amour isn’t waiting for his team to drop Game 4 and end the series in heartbreak against the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Instead, he voiced a sincere, yet harsh comment on his players’ performance, prompting a rude awakening to Aho and other stars.
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“It’s bad decision-making. And the four rookies in the lineup can’t be some of your better players, that can’t happen,” Brind’Amour said postgame, per Bleacher Report Open Ice. “There’s a couple of guys in there that I don’t think came to play the way they needed to in this time of year.
“Can’t be Jordan Staal and Martinook being our best players, that can’t always be that way, and they are every night. We needed more out of some guys.”
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The coach’s message seems aimed at stars like Aho and Andrei Svechnikov who have been far from impactful so far in the series against the Panthers. They have combined for just 3 points in the series, which is far too little for the two forwards with the most ice-time in Carolina.
