Image Credit: Josh Lavallee/Carolina Hurricanes

By Marty Hastings

Q&A WITH STANKOVEN

Stankoven talks position change to centre, statistical goals, Hurricanes’ off-season acquisitions

Oct 7, 2025 | 5:18 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. — Logan Stankoven and his Carolina Hurricanes are scheduled to open their NHL season on Thursday (Oct. 9) against the visiting New Jersey Devils.

Stankoven had 14 goals and 38 points in 78 games last season, playing 59 of those games with the Dallas Stars before he was traded to Carolina in March.

He added five goals and eight points in 15 playoffs games for the Canes, who were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.

Stankoven, the 5-foot-8 forward from Kamloops, spoke to Marty Hastings of CFJC Today ahead of the 2025-2026 NHL campaign.

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Here is the transcript of the interview, which has been edited for length:

MH: Was it more you or Rod [Carolina Hurricanes’ head coach Rod Brind’Amour] who pushed for the position change to centre?
LS: It was more just from Rod at the end of last year once we lost out there [to Florida in the Eastern Conference final], we had two meetings and he kind of explained to me he didn’t know what kind of pickups we were going to make in free agency and kind of mentioned that he might give me a shot at playing centre.

So that was just something I kind of had in the back of my mind going into the summer training. I didn’t know what kind of opportunity he was going to give me, but once I got to camp, he explained to me, ‘Hey, you know, we’re going to try you out at centre and see how it goes.’

We’ve gotten to the last pre-season game here and I’m still at that position.

MH: It’s nothing new for you to be playing centre, but at the NHL level, what are you noticing that’s different about it?
LS: So far, both pre-season games, so it’s been hard to tell just because there wasn’t full NHL lineups yet. But I think the key things are going to be faceoffs. And then being on the right side of pucks, going back into the D-zone and then helping out the defencemen. And you’re going to have some tough matchups. Everyone in this league is skilled now. It’s definitely different from the junior hockey days, but I’m up for the task and excited to see where this goes.

MH: This your preferred position, right, exactly what you want to be doing?
LS: Yeah, it’s what I grew up doing my whole life. I’m kind of used to the center routes. You’re almost kind of a rover out there, helping out your defencemen and getting in on the forecheck. You’re kind of all over the place, so I like that. It feels like that just suits my game, with the motor I have and just kind of the way I see plays happen. The next thing is faceoffs and being able to take on the bigger guys. There’s not a whole lot of smaller centremen, so that’ll be something that I’m going to work on. I have help here, with Rod and Jordan Staal. Those guys are pretty knowledgeable people to learn from.

MH: When we look at the [line] projections, it’s you with Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake. Is that who you’re expecting to play with?
LS: Yeah… like every practice we’ve had as a full team so far, it’s been us three together. So, yeah, that would be an awesome line and hopefully it sticks.

MH: Of the off-season moves your club made, are there a couple that you think might help this team get over the hump in the playoffs?
LS: Yeah, I think a couple big moves. Even in practice, you just notice the skill from Nik Ehlers and K’Andre Miller. Those guys are legit, so really happy to have them on our team now and, hopefully, get us over the hump. It would be so cool to be playing in a Stanley Cup Final, but [we have] a long way to go.

MH: This is your first year playing on the big ticket, the $48-million deal. Do you feel added pressure to perform now that you’re making that kind of money?
LS: Well, actually, this is my last year of my entry-level deal, so I’m still technically on my rookie deal this year. That contract won’t kick in until next year. Looking ahead, though, I think maybe with that contract there is some outside pressure to perform, but honestly, getting that contract out of the way was kind of a relief for me and now I’ll just go out there and play and keep getting better each day as a player, being a good teammate and doing what I can to help us win.

MH: I stand corrected. I forgot about that. Last one for you. Goals for the season, individual-wise, do you have anything in mind that you want to accomplish?
LS: I think more goals, for sure. I feel like being in the league now, I feel like I’m starting to figure out where I can score and what areas to be in on the ice to put the puck in. I think a reasonable goal would be somewhere around 20 goals. I think that’d be awesome, maybe 20 goals, 20 assists would be awesome. For myself, I’ll probably try and shoot higher, but we’ll see how the start of the season goes and what kind of position I’m in, as well.