The Coaches Room is a regular feature throughout the 2025-26 season by former NHL coaches and assistants who turn their critical gaze to the game and explain it through the lens of a teacher.

In this edition, Craig Johnson, a former assistant with the Anaheim Ducks and Ontario of the American Hockey League, and development coach with the Los Angeles Kings, writes about how the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are thriving even without their top defenseman, and why that should matter now to the New York Rangers, too.

The Carolina Hurricanes have played 23 of their 25 games without Jaccob Slavin , who is their best defenseman. The Tampa Bay Lightning have played the past 10 games without Victor Hedman , who is their best defenseman.

The Hurricanes are 14-7-2 without Slavin.

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