Carolina Hurricanes: State of Expiring Contracts
After a tremendously successful season, the Carolina Hurricanes find themselves with decisions to make this offseason about some big names. The Hurricanes have several UFAs and RFAs, as do most teams, but few have the decisions the Canes’ have, especially after going this far in the playoffs.
Because CardiacCane has been (all will continue to do so in the future) going in depth on many of the big name soon-to-be free agents, this will mostly be a summary of the current free agent state of the team. I will do my best to evaluate the salary cap situation the Carolina Hurricanes are in, how each player will fit into that discussion, and more of the financial side of things.
I will save the merits of signing/not signing each individual player for great articles like this one about the captain, Justin Williams.
Most of the following information comes from capfriendly.com.
Generally
As of right now, the cap ceiling and floor are simply projections, but they are most likely going to just about be a cap of $83 million and a floor of $61.3 million. Right now, before any free agents are signed, the Hurricanes are currently spending $54.2 million, which is about $7 million below the floor and nearly $29 below the ceiling.
They should have no problem reaching the floor, but it is really up to them if they want to reach the ceiling. (We’ll have another article about the NHL’s free agent market soon).
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
2018 Cap Hit - $4,500,000. JUSTIN WILLIAMS. UFA. .
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.
. 2018 Cap Hit - $715,000. GREG MCKEGG. UFA.
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.
UFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $1,750,000. MICHAEL FERLAND
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.
. 2018 Cap Hit - $925,000. SEBASTIAN AHO. RFA.
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.
. . 2018 Cap Hit - $887,500. BROCK MCGINN. RFA
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.
2018 Cap Hit - $695,000. CLARK BISHOP. RFA. .
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.
NHL Defensemen
NONE
What a world right? We have one of the deepest defenses in the NHL and none of them on expiring contracts. The AHL roster is a little shakier, see infra, but man it is crazy to have all six of these guys locked up.
That being said, you have to feel for Haydn Fleury, again see infra.
NHL Goaltenders
UFAs
UFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $1,500,000. PETR MRAZEK
2018 Cap Hit - $850,000. CURTIS MCELHINNEY. RFA. .
Both of these players will be or have been discussed on this site already, so I’ll leave them to those articles. That being said, Curtis did leave a pretty cryptic post on instagram so we’ll see. Don Waddell said he wants to re-sign both of them. Personally, I loved both of them this season.
#Canes GM Don Waddell said the team's goal is to bring both Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney back into the fold.
— Michael Smith (@MichaelSmithNC) May 21, 2019
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tandem work so well in the NHL. That being said, Nedeljkovic, see infra, really deserves a shot. I think Petr/Ned next season would be great, but what do I know.
Prospect Forwards
UFAs
Again, these players are certainly less vital to the success of the team moving forward and are UFAs. Patrick Brown played well in the playoffs at an extremely low salary. I would not be shocked if other teams took notice of that performance and want to go after him.
The NHL, like every professional sports league has extremely high turnover, especially on the margins of the rosters and players that can make a splash on the fourth line of a conference finalist are usually in for a bigger payday.
That could be exactly what happens to Patrick Brown.
As mentioned, I would love to see everybody back, but I know that isn’t the reality we live in. If Brown is able to get a big payday somewhere else, that’s fantastic, and you should be happy for him
2018 Cap Hit - $700,000. ANDREW POTURALSKI. UFA. .
UFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $650,000. PATRICK BROWN
RFAs
2018 Cap Hit - $925,000. SAKU MAENALANEN. RFA. .
I’m not exactly sure why Saku Maenalanen is listed as a non-NHL forward on capfriendly (maybe he got sent down to play with the Checkers in the playoffs?), but he has played up with the big boys for most of the season, including the playoffs when he wasn’t hurt.
He’s an RFA so things are less dicey, but I would love to see him back in Raleigh next season.
Maybe slightly more expensive based on what he was making last year, but he has shown he is ready to be a full time NHLer and while we have his rights, we might as well take advantage.
Defensive Prospects
Forgive me if I’m being insensitive, but I think I’m going to discuss this in terms of Haydn Fleury and everybody else.
Haydn Fleury is probably one of the best defenseman in NHL history to barely play in the NHL. Because of the logjam in defense (it’s a good thing), Haydn has been stuck in NHL/AHL purgatory his entire career. It is clear that he is way to good to be playing in Charlotte, but it’s clear that the six above him are better. (That says more about our defense than it does about Haydn)
Perhaps, he should be the trade bait to attract a star forward? Perhaps one the top six should be traded to make room for Haydn? I don’t know.
What’s crazy is that he’s still an RFA. He can’t leave on his own volition, even though he may want to go somewhere he can get a shot. He’s definitely due for a raise and that will be significant money in our seven defenseman, but I can’t see us letting him walk.
As for everyone else, well we need somebody to play defense in Charlotte. The Checkers were unreal, and continue to be unreal, this season, so things are certainly working for them, especially on defense.
As you can see, most of these guys are RFAs so they’re likely going to stay anyway.
Regardless, the future is bright for North Carolina hockey, particular on defense.
UFAs
DAN RENOUF. UFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $650,000
RFAs
. 2018 Cap Hit - $863,000. HAYDN FLEURY. RFA.
RFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $700,000. TREVOR CARRICK
RFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $745,000. ROLAND MCKEOWN
. . 2018 Cap Hit - $695,000. JOSH WESLEY. RFA
Prospect Netminders
RFAs
ALEX NEDELJKOVIC. RFA. . . 2018 Cap Hit - $811,667
Alex Nedeljkovic has been discussed a little bit already, and his situation is very interesting and not unlike Haydn’s.
He won goalie of the year in the AHL and played well in his brief NHL appearances this season. He has been with the Hurricanes’ organization for some time, and even spent part of a season or two in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, when the logjam the Hurricanes’ had was in the net.
Now, he is probably ready for an NHL backup role. This all depends on what we do with the UFAs we have in the NHL in cage, which is TBD.
In terms of money, he’s due a raise, but I’m not sure how much, particularly if we re-sign Petr and Curtis and Ned is back in Charlotte. Again, he’s an RFA so it’s up to the team but I strongly believe it is in the front office’s best interest to keep Ned happy.
More. What other big decisions loom for the Carolina Hurricanes?. light
Who stays and who walks is a different conversation. For now lets see who is looking for which sum.