Hurricanes Notebook: Tyson Jost is Back, Riley Stillman Recalled, & Players Return for Practice – The Hockey Writers Carolina Hurricanes Latest News, Analysis & More

The Carolina Hurricanes are back… well, sort of. The team returned for practice on Tuesday, Feb. 18 for their first of four practices as they ramp back up for game action. Their first game back after the 4 Nation Face-Off break is on Saturday, Feb. 22 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto. Carolina sits at 33-19-4 after 56 games into the 2024-25 season. They have 26 regular season games left before the start of the 2025 NHL Playoffs. Furthermore, the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline is only a few weeks away on March 7. As there are big decisions to make for general manager Eric Tulsky and the front office, it is up to head coach Rod Brind’amour and his staff to get the players ready for the first game back after a two-week break.

As the regular season for the Hurricanes approaches, let’s catch up on the recent news surrounding the team.

Tyson Jost Activated off Injured Reserve

There was some good news to come back to for Brind’Amour, the staff, the team, and the fans. Tyson Jost, who has been out since Dec. 31 after suffering a lower-body injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets, is set to make his return on Saturday in Toronto. Jost has two points – both goals – for the Hurricanes in 16 games. He also has a plus-3 rating with 12 penalty minutes over the 16-game span. He was mainly playing fourth-line center before his injury on the last day of 2024. For the most part, he was playing great hockey before the injury caused hm to miss a significant number of games.

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Upon his return, Jost stated, “When I got hurt, I felt like I was playing a really, really solid game. I liked where my game was going and I was making a difference every time I was out there. It was just kind of a weird, freak play where I felt something snap.”

It will be interesting if there will be any other roster moves before their game on Saturday. If there are no other moves, expect Jost to be back in the fourth-line center slot between Eric Robinson and Jack Roslovic. After practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, that will most likely be the Hurricanes’ fourth-line setup going into Toronto.

After trading Jack Drury away to the Colorado Avalanche, the team had to use Juha Jaaska, Ryan Suzuki, and Roslovic in some instances with Jost out. Either way, getting Jost back is a boost for the Hurricanes after filling that slot by committee.

Riley Stillman Recalled From Chicago

In a subsequent move on the same day, the Hurricanes also recalled Riley Stillman from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was reassigned to the Wolves at the start of the 4 Nations Face-Off but is back once again to serve as the Hurricanes’ seventh defenseman. Currently, he is the placeholder at practice while Jaccob Slavin is set to play in the Final at the 4 Nations on Thursday. Stillman made his Hurricanes debut on Jan. 28 against the New York Rangers and had a fight in the game. While he has only played one game for the team, he has made an impact in the AHL with the Wolves.

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Stillman has two goals and five points in 20 games with the Wolves and the AHL veteran has been a solid blueliner overall. He brings some NHL experience, with 159 games played, and while he only has 26 points he is more than capable of being a solid seventh defenseman in the Hurricanes’ times of need. Overall, getting Stillman back along with Jost does put the Hurricanes in a great spot regarding able bodies who can help in the depth department.

Hurricanes Back Saturday in Toronto

While the team still waits for the return of Slavin, Sebastian Aho, Mikko Rantanen, and Seth Jarvis from the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Hurricanes have their sights set on Saturday. It’ll be a stretch of 26 games in 52 days to determine what seed they will get in the 2025 NHL Playoffs. They are a playoff-bound team without a doubt, but now it will come down to who they will face in the first round. It all starts against the Maple Leafs with a 7 p.m. Eastern puck drop on Feb. 22. Fans are excited to see the team back and to turn their attention back to the NHL season after the 4 Nations event. Welcome back NHL hockey… somewhat back, anyway.