Four springs ago, I shared the following predictions about where the NHL was headed, tactically speaking.
The next three Stanley Cups were won by throwback teams (Vegas’ passive zone defense and long-pass offense; Florida’s heavy, physical forecheck). But in 2025-26, the Carolina Hurricanes went all the way with essentially the same playbook I outlined in 2022.
Below are the remaining pages in the Hockey Tactics 2022 bonus chapter. These pages predicted the biggest tactical changes undertaken by CAR in recent years:
More fluid, efficient With Puck play
More layered, fail-safe Without Puck play
In the upcoming Part 2 of this series, I’ll talk you through a few teaching clips from the Hurricanes’ post-season run against the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights. Look for it in the coming week, if you’re a paid newsletter subscriber!
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