What’s on the Carolina Hurricanes’ agenda as NHL free agency opens? Goalies, and scoring
Hockey fans love it. NHL general managers approach it with some trepidation.
The start of free agency offers a lot of opportunities and the chance to add players and reshape teams. But there’s always a price, and as the GM’s are happy to note, the prices can be steep.
Don Waddell, president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, has some major decisions to make as NHL free agency cranks up Saturday at noon He does have ample salary cap space to use — just over $21 million, per CapFriendly.com — and an owner in Tom Dundon, who does not mind spending to win.
The Hurricanes did no wheeling and dealing at the NHL Draft in Nashville this week. They had 10 draft picks and used all 10 on prospects, including five on Russian players.
The Canes made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Dylan Coghlan, the team said Friday. Not receiving qualifying offers were forwards Jesse Puljujarvi, Dominik Bokk and Stelio Mattheos, who become UFA’s.
Puljujarvi, 25, was obtained by the Canes from Edmonton before the trade deadline last season but could not stick in the lineup. A former first-round draft pick by the Oilers, the Finn played 17 games and had two assists for Carolina. He has reportedly had double hip surgery this offseason.
With that done, Waddell will continue with his to-do list, which is sure to include:
The goaltending
Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta both become unrestricted free agents on Saturday. Waddell has talked to both camps about new contracts. Andersen was being paid an average of $4.5 million and Raanta $2 million.
A guess: one will stay with the Canes and one will not.
Extending Aho
Waddell said he talked with Aho’s agent, Gerry Johansson, this week and that a new contract extension could be announced soon for the Canes’ best forward and top-line center. Which could mean Saturday.
A guesstimate: eight years, with an average of $9.5 million a year. That’s what some are guessing, Could be higher.
Making a Fast decision
Who led the Canes in goal-scoring in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs? Jesper Fast, with six.
Who teamed with Jordan Staal much of the year on one of the NHL’s best shutdown lines? Who is one of the Canes’ most popular players? Jesper Fast.
The Canes have apparently found a way to keep the quietly effective Swedish forward, another of the team’s UFAs. Media reports Friday had him signing a new pact for $2.4 million a year.
What about Patches?
Max Pacioretty, also a UFA, will always be a part of the season-that-could-have-been narrative for the Canes in 2022-23. Two Achilles tears, before and then during the season, limited the veteran forward to what amounted to a cameo appearance – five games.
Everyone admired how relentlessly Pacioretty worked to get back in the lineup. But he likely will be in someone else’s lineup next season.
Karlsson-Burns reunion?
The Sharks might be willing to part with Erik Karlsson, the Norris Trophy winner who had 101 points last season. Could he follow Brent Burns, his former San Jose teammate, to Raleigh?
Waddell and Mike Grier, the Sharks GM, apparently have a good working relationship. They got the Burns deal done last year. And the Sharks trading Karlsson and retaining a nice chunk of Karlsson’s $11.5 million annual salary, could work.
But at what price? Karlsson to the Canes is an enticing social-media notion but might be just that: enticing, but a notion.
Brett Pesce?
OK, he hired new representation, a new wrinkle in contract negotiations. He needs an extension. He wants what he believes he’s worth.
The Canes need defenseman Brett Pesce. They need to get it done. They always talk about the need for a player to be a “true Hurricane.” Pesce is a Hurricane, drafted, developed and as tough as they come.
Hurricanes unrestricted free agents
Forwards: Jesper Fast*, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, Makenzie MacEachern, Ondrej Kase.
Defensemen: Shayne Gostisbehere, Calvin de Haan, Jake Gardiner.
Goalies: Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta.
*Fast has reportedly signed a new contract as of Friday morning
