Carolina Hurricanes Defense Search: Top Five Free Agent Defensemen

The Carolina Hurricanes don’t really need to sign a big free agent defenseman, but it rounds out the series

Ok for the third and final part of our series on free agents Cardiac Cane takes a look at the upcoming defensive unrestricted free agents.  The Carolina Hurricanes aren’t really in need of top end defensive talent, but with looks at forwards and goalies, it would be remiss if the trilogy wasn’t completed.

It also wouldn’t be completely outside the realm of possibility that the Hurricanes sign another defenseman in free agency.  Ron Francis signed Klas Dahlbeck, Matt Tennyson, and Jakub Nakladal despite having Ryan Murphy and Noah Hanifin penciled into the third pairing.  Maybe paying a bit more for a solid third pairing guy wouldn’t be too crazy. Even more so after the issues the Hurricanes had with their bottom two defensemen this year.

If Francis does decide to pursue a defenseman in free agency there is good news.  The UFA class for defensemen is much better than the one for forwards.  Not quite as good as the goalie free agent list, but a strong second nonetheless.  There is one honorable mention that didn’t quite make the list in Brendan Smith of the New York Rangers.  Enough with the jibber jabber, though, and onto the list.

All data used in the piece is generated from Corsica unless otherwise noted.