Carolina Hurricanes: State of Expiring Contracts

NHL Forwards

This is the largest group on the list. We have a younger team obviously, so there are some expiring short term contracts that need to be looked at. Some (Aho) are more obvious than others (Bishop, though no offense intended to Bishop). If the team is interested in signing a bigger name free agent, perhaps Matt Duchene, than this outlook would probably change. This team went on a deep run that included a sweep of the New York Islanders.

It’s not clear whether we are therefore content with the team we have, assume everyone will improve next year, and try to make another run, or infuse some already proven talent into the lineup. There’s no question that adding someone like Duchen would pay huge dividends for this team.

UFAs

As mentioned, we have just published an article about signing Williams.  Justin Williams has recently stated that he doesn’t know if wants to play next year, but if he does, it will be in Carolina. It’s clear he cares immensely about this team and loves playing for/leading with his former linemate Rod Brind’Amour.

That being said he’s 37 and has already won three cups, including one in the town he loves so much. There is not much left for Justin to prove, but I certainly hope he returns next year.

I doubt money would be an issue if he wants to return.

In one of the most minor trades former GM Ron Francis made, the Hurricanes acquired Greg McKegg for Josh Jooris at the deadline in 2018. It turned out to honestly be a great move.

If anyone thought that only one year later, Greg McKegg would be playing in double overtime of a playoff game 7, they were lying. But that is what happened this year.

He has struggled to make an NHL roster his entire career, but RBA gave him a shot and made most of it.

McKegg has been a great fourth line player and for what presumably won’t be much money, it makes sense to resign him. The NHL minimum will probably be enough, and some continuity is always a good thing.

This one is very tough. There has been drama about Micheal Ferland this entire season and he recently posted a pretty cryptic instagram post. We have a story coming out about signing Ferland so I will live the rest to that.

RFAs

Restricted Free Agents are a little different obviously. If you don’t know the difference, to simplify the process (probably oversimplify, wikipedia explains it better than I will right now) is that the Hurricanes have a chance to match any deal the player signs elsewhere. Very rarely do players leave the team in restricted free agency if their parent club doesn’t want them to leave.

In other words, if we want to sign these players, it’s up to us, not so much them.

Come on, do I really have to say anything about Sebastian Aho? He was far and away the best forward on the team for much of the season (I’d say player, but Jaccob Slavin is really really good) and will be the face of the franchise for years to come, unless Andrei Svechnikov has something to say about it.

Aho will likely demand one of the largest salaries the Hurricanes have ever dished out, though that is not saying much because the previous ownership did not love to spend.

To me, anything under $10 million a year is pretty much a no brainer. If Aho played in a bigger market he would be talked about basically just as much as the truly elite stars of today’s NHL. And if the Hurricanes had won the Stanley Cup this year, the world would have known how good he really is.

However, I do think he has been dealing with a significant injury since he ran into a teammate late in the regular season. I mean, everyone is dealing with something in the playoffs, Martinook was playing with a hernia.

Regardless, there is a zero percent chance this team doesn’t sign Sebastian Aho to a long term deal. As far as I can tell, he likes it here and here likes him. This is a no brainer.

Honestly, Brock McGinn seems like a no brainer to me also.

Perhaps, this article is going to be worthless because I have fallen in love with this team. I don’t want to get rid of anyone and I want everything (except the power play) to stay the same. Why wouldn’t a player like Brock get better next year and possibly be a second line guy? He was great this year and seems to be great for the locker room.

In addition, he won’t garner that much monetary attention. Probably somewhere around the $1 million mark is accurate and deserving.

Again, he’s an RFA and I don’t think many teams would be interested in giving him an offer sheet, so it’s up to the Hurricanes front office. I can’t see them not resigning him.

As mentioned, no offense to Clark Bishop intended, he stepped up when he needed to this season and I thought played very well, but I his re-signing is not nearly as important as everyone I just mentioned. I think another two way deal for low money would be ideal.

The thing is, we have a few forwards in Charlotte right now that will probably be pretty close to NHL level next season. A guy like Clark Bishop may get squeezed out. But what do I know. He may progress this summer and beat out others for a fourth line spot on the Canes next season.

God, that would be great.