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Carolina Hurricanes: Top 5 Free Agents That The Hurricanes Should Pursue

By Matthew Nidiffer

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 03: Head coach Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes makes remarks to the press following a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders in Game Four of Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 03: Head coach Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes makes remarks to the press following a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders in Game Four of Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 25: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 25, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 25: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 25, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Artemi Panarin

Yes, you did in fact read that right. Artemi Panarin. While most analysts (myself included) see Panarin joining the Florida Panthers next season to rejoin newly-hired Head Coach Joel Quenneville, I think it’d be a no-brainer to at least throw our hat in the ring and make Panarin an offer.

The young forward responded well (in regards to offensive production) after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks in June of 2017, and would fit right in with the Hurricanes. Panarin is as smart as he is fast, and seems to be a fairly amiable guy off the ice.

Panarin finished the regular season with 28 goals and 59 assists, for a combined 87 points in 79 games played. 12 of these points, all assists, came on the powerplay. Panarin would be a huge asset to have, and his playmaking skill would pair perfectly with Sebastian Aho, Nino Niederreiter, Andrei Svechnikov, or Jordan Staal.

Look for Panarin to sign a large deal wherever he goes. By my estimate, he’d be worth well over a $6mil AAV, but the Hurricanes, having one of the lowest payrolls in the league last season, have money to spend.

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