Canes turning to top prospects with Hall considered 'week to week' with upper-body injury

Down three top forwards, the Carolina Hurricanes are turning to two highly touted prospects as they embark on their annual State Fair road trip.

Carolina recalled forwards Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum from Chicago and they are expected to play during the five-game trip that includes four games in Canada and St. Louis between Friday and Oct. 24.

The Stanley Cup-champion Hurricanes (6-1-1) have won six in a row and are atop the Metro Division despite the injuries.

“Both of those guys I thought played great in the preseason,” head coach Rod Brind’Amour said Friday morning. “We just didn’t have spots available. Now we got injuries. I’m sure they’ll see some action here.”

Forward Taylor Hall left Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury. He is considered a “week-to-week situation,” Brind’Amour said. The Canes are also without captain Jordan Staal, who is expected to miss a month or two with a calf injury and was placed on injured reserve. Forward Seth Jarvis, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, will be on the trip and could play, but he hasn’t been cleared, Brind’Amour said. Jarvis has shed the no-contact jersey at practice.

Nadeau, 20, played in 12 games for Carolina last season and scored three goals. He was the franchise’s first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Under Sorum, 21, made his NHL debut in April. He was a second-round pick (No. 63 overall) in 2023.

"Not trying to think, just play," Nadeau said. "That's usually when you're at your best. Just go out there, have fun, usually the success will come."

The young players could see time on the power play. They impressed during training camp, but it took injuries to open a spot.

“What was not to like really?” Brind’Amour said of their work in the preseason. “They were impactful players in every game that they played. They had a hand in what went on in those games. That’s what you ask those guys to do — and they did it.”