Carolina Hurricanes Offseason Preview: Restricted Free Agents
The Carolina Hurricanes have big things coming this summer, but unfortunately it isn’t a stanley cup. The Canes could have big changes to their coaching staff, management, and roster this summer.
This is part one of the Carolina Hurricanes offseason preview. Part one will be about upcoming restricted free agents from the Carolina Hurricanes, and whether I think they should re-sign them this summer.
I’ll go in depth on NHL players and a few AHL players, but I will simply give a “sign” or “release” answer for most AHL players.
Jan 22, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jiri Tlusty (19) celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Hurricanes defeated the Flyers, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jiri Tlusty came into the 2013-2014 season coming off a ridiculous goal scoring campaign in the 2013 shortened season. His 23 goals and 38 points were both career highs.
I think his lofty expectations were unfair coming into this season. It was impossible for the Carolina Hurricanes first line of Tlusty, Eric Staal and Alexander Semin to reproduce the kind of offense they supplied last year, and the same goes for Jiri Tlusty’s 19.7% shooting percentage. There was no way he was going to score one goal on every five shots once again.
That being said, Jiri Tlusty got off to an abysmal start to the season. He had just 8 points and was a -8 in his first 35 games of the season, which, inevitably, led to many trade rumors. Kirk Muller even had to have a long talk with him about his current situation. He turned into a bottom line player, and he was playing well under ten minutes per game at one point of the season, but something started to click for the Czech forward in late December.
Since December 20, Jiri Tlusty has 10 goals and 8 assists (18 points) in 27 games. He is also a +9 in that time. He has turned into an offensive contributor once again for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Jiri Tlusty does not have to put up 40 goals in season to be useful for the Carolina Hurricanes, and he has proved that over the past few months. He is a good offensive player, and he is a great two-way forward that you can plug in almost any spot in the line up.
For those reasons, I think the Carolina Hurricanes should keep Jiri Tlusty on board going into next season.
Verdict: Re-Sign (2-3 years, $2 Million per season)
Dec 27, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Nathan Gerbe (14) celebrates his 2nd period goal with teammates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nathan Gerbe was signed to a one year, $550k contract last summer by the Carolina Hurricanes. When he was signed, I don’t think many people expected him to turn into a 30+ point scorer with 16 goals through the month of March, but that’s what he has turned into.
The 5’5″ forward has been a very good middle of the lineup player for the Carolina Hurricanes at a very cheap contract. He gives everything he has on every shift on the ice, and he can provide offense at the bottom of the lineup.
The Carolina Hurricanes should re-sign Nathan Gerbe, if the price is right. Whether he stays with the Carolina Hurricanes or not, Nathan Gerbe is in for a big pay raise this summer.
Verdict: Re-Sign (1-2 years, $1.5 Million per season)
Dec 12, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Drayson Bowman (21) passes the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The Drayson Bowman experiment has lasted far too long for the Carolina Hurricanes. The former 3rd round draft pick has played 170 NHL/Carolina Hurricanes games, and he has put up 15 goals and 17 assists (32 points) in that time. He is also a minus player.
Drayson Bowman is usually unnoticeable on the ice. He doesn’t really contribute to any area consistently. In juniors, he was a star scorer, but that has yet to translate to the NHL. At 25-years-old, Bowman may be running out of time with the Carolina Hurricanes organization.
The Carolina Hurricanes don’t play Drayson Bowman nearly at all. To prove my point, here are Drayson Bowman’s game logs over the past three game.
| Game | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | S | S% | Shifts | TOI | FO% |
| Mar 25 ’14 NYI @ CAR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 10 | 5:58 | |
| Mar 22 ’14 CAR @ WPG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3:08 | ||
| Mar 21 ’14 CAR @ CHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3:56 | 50.0 |
To sum that up, Drayson Bowman has struggled to get more than 4 minutes of ice time over the past few games. He has also taken just one shot in that time period while not getting over 10 shifts in a game.
I think Drayson Bowman could turn into a Patrick Dwyer type player at some point in his career, but he isn’t even there yet. I don’t think it is worth it to keep Drayson Bowman any more.
Verdict: Release
Mar 22, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Loktionov (8) races away from Winnipeg Jets forward
Evander Kane(9) in first-period action at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Shawn Coates-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Andrei Loktionov in a deal that sent Tuomo Ruutu to the New Jersey Devils at the NHL trade deadline. Andrei Loktionov is 23 years old.
We haven’t seen much of Andrei Loktionov yet, so its tough for me to say whether he should be re-signed by the Carolina Hurricanes. He got off to a somewhat slow start, but he does have five points in his last five games. Most of that has been with Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty on the first line.
Andrei Loktionov could have a bright NHL future, and he has already won a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings. Until I’m proven other wise, I think the Carolina Hurricanes should hold on to Andrei Loktionov.
Verdict: Re-Sign (1 year, $900k)
Sep 21, 2013; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens left wing
Michael Bournival(49) misses a chance to score a goal against Carolina Hurricanes goalie
Anton Khudobin(31) as defenseman Brett Bellemore (73) defends during the third period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes have been relatively unsuccessful at drafting players late in the draft, but Brett Bellemore has proven to be an exception.
Brett Bellemore was a sixth round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. After years in the minors, Brett Bellemore has proven that he deserves to be in the NHL.
He is a good, young defensive defenseman that the Carolina Hurricanes have seen develop in front of them over the last years or so. He has proven that he can be relied on as a top-six defenseman and a penalty killer in a very short time.
Brett Bellemore has had a very good season with defenseman Ron Hainsey. Hainsey has done a great job helping Brett Bellemore turn into a very useful NHL defenseman.
I think the Carolina Hurricanes should bring back Brett Bellemore
Verdict: Re-Sign (1 year, $800k)
Jan 9, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Zach Boychuk (32) celebrates his 1st period goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes have had Zach Boychuk in their organization since he was their first round draft pick in 2008.
First, I think it is incredibly ridiculous that he did not make the team out of training camp. He was in the best shape of his life, he was playing the best hockey of his life, and Kirk Muller just sent him off back to Charlotte.
Since then, Zach Boychuk has 64 points (31 goals, 33 assists) in 60 games with the Charlotte Checkers this season. He was also called up for 9 games earlier this season. He picked up 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 9 games with the Carolina Hurricanes in his lone callup early in the year, and he was on the fourth line for the entire time. He was a +2.
I don’t know why, but he was placed right in Kirk Muller’s dog house with the likes of Jussi Jokinen and Chad LaRose in the past.
With a new head coach likely coming in next season, Zach Boychuk should get a chance to have a good start with whoever that will be. It’s obvious that Zach Boychuk has turned into a new player, but the organization did not give him a chance this season.
If it was up to me, the Carolina Hurricanes should re-sign Zach Boychuk and get him on the team in training camp. He could be a great player for the Carolina Hurricanes as soon as next season.
Verdict: 1 year, $900k
AHL Players
February 14, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen
Michal Jordan(47) watches the game during the 2nd period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the PNC center. The Hurricanes defeated the Maple Leafs 3-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Nemisz – Re-Sign
Justin Shugg – Re-Sign
Aaron Palushaj – Re-Sign
Rasmus Rissanen – Re-Sign
Tommi Kivisto – Release
Mike Murphy – Re-Sign
Matthew Corrente – Re-Sign
Michal Jordan – Re-Sign
Jared Staal – Release
Kellan Tolchkin – Release