William Carrier will face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, and he knows the matchup well. The Carolina Hurricanes forward spent seven seasons in Vegas and won the Stanley Cup there in 2023, so this final opens with a familiar opponent at 8 p.m. ET.
Carrier and Vegas
Carrier called the meeting “special” on Monday at Stanley Cup Final Media Day. He added, “It will definitely be fun out there. If it was last year it would have been a little different, but it’s been two years.”
That kind of familiarity cuts both ways. He played for Vegas from 2017 to 2024, and this will be his second trip to the final against that franchise after he also appeared in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, when the Golden Knights lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.
Brind’Amour’s trust
Rod Brind’Amour has leaned on Carrier for more than nostalgia. The Hurricanes coach said, “I think it’s every game, it’s not just this time of year,” then added, “You know what he does and he does it every night. This time of year I think his game gets a little more noticed because that’s the kind of hockey that gets played now. He’s just been a perfect fit.”
Carrier is in his second season with Carolina after signing a six-year, $12 million contract on July 3, 2024. He has 18 points in 70 regular-season games this year, with seven goals and 11 assists.
Hits and playoff setup
The postseason numbers have been more direct. Carrier leads the Hurricanes and ranks third in the NHL with 66 hits, and he has three assists in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He also set up the goal that gave Carolina a 3-0 lead in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against Montreal on Friday.
Eric Robinson called that play “an incredible play” and said, “All I had to do was skate onto the puck.” Mark Jankowski was even blunter about Carrier’s value, saying, “He’s probably the best player in the League when the puck is below the hash marks and he has the puck,” and adding, “He can take on anyone, he can take it to the net, and he’s the strongest guy I’ve ever been around.”
Carolina now carries that profile into a final that already has a personal edge for one of its forwards. Carrier said, “Physicality is a big part of (my role), but then you’ve got to get those big goals,” and the Hurricanes will need both against the team he helped beat for a title in 2023.
