Why Rod Brind'Amour turned to Nicolas Deslauriers at a crucial moment
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Nicolas Deslauriers debuts under Rod Brind'Amour as the Carolina Hurricanes overhaul their fourth line in Columbus.
This move traces back to the trade. Carolina paid a conditional seventh-round pick to pull Deslauriers out of Philadelphia.
He didn't have a role there anymore. Just 1 assist in 24 games and an average of 8:05 per night told the story.
But the Hurricanes aren't chasing offense with this decision. They're targeting presence and push on the forecheck.
Deslauriers still delivered physically, racking up 86 hits despite limited usage. That's what Brind'Amour wants injected into his bottom six.
Eric Robinson comes out of the lineup. That's a direct swap in identity, not just personnel.
Carolina sits at 90 points, first in the Metropolitan Division. This is a team tuning details before the playoffs, not searching for answers.
A fourth line built for contact and pressure
Deslauriers slides in with Jankowski and Carrier, forming a line designed to grind shifts and wear down opposing defensemen.
This is about territory. Long cycles, heavy finishes, and fewer clean exits for the opponent.
Career-wise, Deslauriers brings 53 goals and 105 points in 701 games. The offense is secondary, but the experience matters in tight games.
Brind'Amour has leaned on structure all season. This tweak adds a layer of bite without touching the top six.
Up front, Svechnikov, Aho, and Jarvis continue to drive the scoring. That part of the lineup stays untouched.
On the back end, Slavin and Chatfield anchor the blue line, keeping Carolina stable in transition.
In goal, Brandon Bussi gets the start. That adds another variable behind a retooled fourth line.
Everything lines up with one goal. Control the pace early, establish contact, and make life uncomfortable shift after shift.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 17|40 ANSWERS Why Rod Brind'Amour turned to Nicolas Deslauriers at a crucial moment Should Nicolas Deslauriers stay in the Hurricanes lineup for the playoffs ? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 67.5 % |
| No | 13 | 32.5 % |
| List of polls | ||