Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen have rejoined the Carolina Hurricanes, getting in valuable practice time as they gear up for the grind of the NHL’s regular season. Meanwhile, Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin made their way back to Raleigh just in time to board the team’s charter flight to Toronto, where the Hurricanes were set to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday following the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off event.
Both Jarvis and Slavin played pivotal roles in the international tournament, with Jarvis earning a medal after Team Canada’s thrilling overtime victory against Slavin and Team USA in Thursday’s championship game in Boston. Slavin, despite the loss, received high praise from NHL legends Mark Messier and Mike Modano, being recognized as the most impactful player for Team USA.
Aho and Rantanen, representing Finland, were eliminated earlier in the tournament and used the extra time to rest before returning to practice on Friday at Invisalign Arena. Reflecting on the competition, Aho shared his appreciation for the experience. “I expected high-intensity, high-level hockey, and that’s exactly what it was,” he said. “Obviously, you always want to win, but the games were incredible. Playing for your country in a best-on-best setting is an unmatched experience.”
The 4 Nations Face-Off attracted significant attention from both die-hard hockey fans and casual sports enthusiasts, particularly after Team USA’s fiery 3-1 victory over Canada in the preliminary round, a game that saw three fights break out within the first nine seconds.
‘It’s All Business’
Aho recounted a unique moment from Finland’s game against the U.S., where he found himself on the opposite side of the ice from Slavin. “I think it was the first or second shift when he stood me up at the blue line, and I ended up offside,” Aho recalled with a smile. “Our eyes locked, and it was kind of a weird moment, but after that, it was all business. You don’t dwell on it unless there’s a scrum where you exchange a few words. After that first shift, it wasn’t weird anymore.”
Slavin played heavy minutes for Team USA, frequently matched up against elite talents like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Notably, he and his defensive partner, Brock Faber, were not on the ice when McDavid netted the overtime game-winner for Canada in the championship match.
Aho, who watched the final, had expected a closely contested game but didn’t anticipate any early fights. “Two really good teams going at it—it was a coin flip,” he said. “People asked me who would win, and I had no idea. In the end, I guess the best team won.”
Assessing his own performance, Aho felt there was room for improvement. Centering a line with Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund, he recorded two assists over three games. “Our line didn’t quite find its rhythm,” he admitted. “But it’s a learning process. We’ll likely have a similar group at the Olympics next year, so hopefully, we can take what we learned here and bring our best effort to that stage.”
Shifting Focus Back to the NHL
With 26 regular-season games remaining, the Hurricanes (33-19-4) are in pursuit of the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals, who sit 10 points ahead. Rantanen emphasized the team’s renewed focus. “That tournament had high expectations, but now it’s behind us. The priority now is winning as many games as we can with this team,” he said. “Mentally, it might even be a bit easier now that the international competition is over, and we can focus solely on our NHL season.”
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour was relieved to see his returning players healthy, noting that the intensity of the 4 Nations Face-Off had taken a toll on several participants, some of whom returned to their NHL teams nursing injuries. “With ‘Slavo’ playing heavy minutes and ‘Jarvy’ celebrating a big win, they have to get back into the grind,” Brind’Amour said.
As for Brind’Amour himself, he was the only one visibly limping at Friday’s practice after undergoing a minor knee procedure. However, he quickly dismissed any concerns with a quip: “I’m just getting old.”
