Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin has been activated from injured reserve and returned to the lineup against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. The 31-year-old missed the team's last 10 games since December 19 due to an upper-body injury, limiting him to just five appearances this season. Slavin expressed readiness to contribute upon his return.
The Carolina Hurricanes activated veteran defenseman Jaccob Slavin from injured reserve on January 10, 2026, ahead of their home game against the Seattle Kraken. Slavin, who has been sidelined since December 19 with an upper-body injury, had appeared in only five games this season, missing 39 contests overall due to health issues.
At the morning skate, Slavin was paired with Jalen Chatfield on the blue line. The Denver native, selected by Carolina in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, reflected on his recovery: "I've never had to deal with injuries like that before," Slavin said. "We're good to go. Ready to be back out there."
Slavin's return bolsters a Hurricanes defense that has managed without him. He holds franchise records among defensemen for points (299 in 750 career games, with 55 goals and 244 assists), assists, and shorthanded points (18, tied for the lead). Additionally, he ranks second league-wide in takeaways (704) since the 2015-16 season and has won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy twice (2020-21 and 2023-24) for sportsmanship and performance.
Recently named to Team USA's roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Slavin serves as an alternate captain and brings playoff experience with 40 points (9 goals, 31 assists) in 86 games. The Hurricanes also reassigned defenseman Joel Nystrom to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League on Friday.
This activation underscores Carolina's efforts to regain full strength amid a demanding schedule.
