MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Seth Jarvis was back on the ice when Carolina opened training camp Thursday, wearing a noncontact sweater but looking like a player who may beat the timeline set after right shoulder surgery in late June.
The Hurricanes forward underwent procedures to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff, an injury that initially carried a four-to-six-month recovery window. That forecast placed his potential return anywhere from late October into December, though Jarvis said his rehabilitation has moved faster than expected.
“The last update I got was that I was ahead of schedule,” Jarvis said. “I just have to keep putting the work in. It has been a long process, but now you can start to see the end coming.”
Jarvis first hurt the shoulder during the 2023-24 season and elected to manage it through the following two years. He dressed for 71 regular-season games and all 19 of Carolina’s playoff games during last season’s Stanley Cup championship run, then played five games for Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
He led Carolina with 32 goals last season and produced 11 points, including four goals, in the postseason. Thursday’s session marked another step after several weeks of skating on his own or in controlled work.
“My conditioning is in a good spot,” Jarvis said. “The main thing is adjusting to having other players around again. I have to make sure I avoid contact, but overall it felt good. Getting rid of the brace and having more range of motion makes a big difference. You can use the whole ice and feel more natural.”
Coach Rod Brind’Amour liked what he saw but made clear that Carolina will not turn a positive camp appearance into a rushed return.
“He’s moving well and he looks good,” Brind’Amour said. “But there will be no pushing him back before he’s ready. He needs to continue getting stronger and moving forward. Once he is ready, he’ll tell us, and we’ll put him in the lineup as soon as we can.”
Blue-line jobs open while Nikishin remains unsigned
Defenseman Alexander Nikishin was absent from the first on-ice session because he remains an unsigned restricted free agent. General manager Eric Tulsky said Wednesday that Nikishin would not attend camp without a contract and that the club would not offer additional comment.
The 24-year-old was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after posting 11 goals and 22 assists in 81 regular-season games last season. He averaged 18:11 per game and was most often paired with Shayne Gostisbehere. Nikishin added one assist in 17 playoff appearances, averaging 14:50 a night.
His absence gives Carolina’s returning and newly added defenders a longer runway to compete for work. Mike Reilly recorded nine points in 42 games last season and was the only member of this group to see postseason action, collecting two assists in two games. Joel Nystrom had 10 points across 38 games, while Charles Alexis Legault posted a goal and an assist in 12 appearances.
The Hurricanes also enter camp with Juuso Valimaki and Pierre-Olivier Joseph in the mix. Valimaki joined the organization from the Utah Mammoth on Jan. 5, played for Chicago in the American Hockey League, and signed a one-year deal on June 24. Joseph agreed to a one-year contract on Sept. 8.
“We brought in some players there,” Brind’Amour said. “There will be competition, especially with the younger guys who have come up and handled themselves well. That is a healthy thing to have, and we’ll find out how it settles.”
Carolina opens its regular season Sept. 29 against the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, with ESPN carrying the game.
