Top 5 Free Agents the Carolina Hurricanes Should Target

Honorable Mentions

Mattias Janmark is the first honorable mention on this list. Janmark, currently 28 years old, is playing for the Vegas Golden Knights after being traded mid-season by the Chicago Blackhawks. Janmark misses out on the main list solely because he doesn’t have the same production as the other guys mentioned.

In his career, Janmark has played 353 games between the Chicago Blackhawks, the Dallas Stars, and the Vegas Golden Knights. In those games, he has totaled 57 goals and 133 points. I can see the Canes going for someone like Janmark because he plays well on both sides of the puck. Janmark played both the power play and the penalty kill.

His price is also not going to be incredibly high. He took a one-year contract this year with the Blackhawks for only $2.25 million, and his play doesn’t really warrant a raise so his price would be cheap. I could see the Carolina Hurricanes giving him a Jesper Fast-like contract, a 2-3 year deal worth around $2-2.5 million dollars.

With Janmark, let me introduce the Top 9 formula. The top 9 formula is this, the Carolina Hurricanes have a top 9 basically filled out, except for one winger position, whether that be on line 2 or line 3. So, lets see what it would look like:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas

Janmark-Staal-Jarvis

Janmark actually fits the mold of the top 9 pretty well. He plays a two-way game and can help with scoring some. Janmark could fit right in on the second power play unit, and could even rack up several minutes on the penalty kill as well. He fits the Hurricanes system a lot better than I want to admit; Janmark would admittedly be cheaper than most of these guys, but since he doesn’t have the same scoring ability that the other guys have, he stays in the honorable mentions.

Alexander Wennberg is next up in the honorable mentions, as he is an option that the Carolina Hurricanes don’t necessarily need and there is a low possibility of him hitting the open market in the first place, but he’d fit in great with the Hurricanes system. Wennberg has a fun story around him on how he got to the Florida Panthers, so let’s start with that.

Alexander Wennberg, currently 26, was drafted 14th overall in the 2013 NHL draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wennberg played 6 seasons with the Blue Jackets, totaling 415 games. In those games, Wennberg scored 40 goals to go along with 201 points. Now, a player like Wennberg, a top 6 center with great two-way game, doesn’t grow on trees. So, why did the Blue Jackets release him?

The Columbus Blue Jackets bought out Wennberg on October 8th, 2020, partially because of Wennberg’s struggles after signing his contract, but another big reason was because the Blue Jackets had no cap, and were themselves struggling to re-sign Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois was re-signed to a two-year, $10 million dollar contract extension on December 31st, 2020, but there would arise an even bigger problem: Dubois ultimately wanted a change of scenery.

As a result, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen tried to make the best of a bad situation, and traded Dubois for disgruntled star (and former future Carolina Hurricane) Patrik Laine, who they now have to re-sign, and we’ve seen a Patrik Laine contract standoff before. So the summary, the Columbus Blue Jackets bought out Alexander Wennberg to try and re-sign Pierre-Luc Dubois, who they then re-signed and traded away for a guy who they now have to pay more money than either of Wennberg or Dubois.

The kicker? Wennberg had a much better season in Florida. This year, Wennberg had 17 goals and 29 points in 52 games, helping lead the Panthers to the playoffs in back to back years. Plugging Wennberg into the formula, we get:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas

Staal/Wennberg-Staal/Wennberg-Jarvis

Yeah, it looks a little funky with Wennberg being a true center, but Jordan Staal has the ability to play on the wing. You could even try and let Wennberg learn to play the wing, or use him as the best 4th line center in the NHL. Wennberg could also play on the second power play unit with Necas, Staal, Niederreiter, and Bean (potentially, depending on how the expansion draft plays out). Wennberg isn’t necessarily needed, but he would be a welcome addition, as he would play well in this system and wouldn’t be over the top expensive. Since I don’t see Wennberg hitting the open market, though, he stays an honorable mention.

My absolute favorite pickup by any team at the deadline, my last honorable mention is Mike Reilly. Reilly, who was traded to the Boston Bruins from the Ottawa Senators for a 3rd round pick in 2022, is a 27-year old left-handed defenseman who has finally found his groove. M. Reilly (no not that M. Rielly that plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs) was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011.

Reilly played 4 years for the University of Minnesota before being unable to come to terms with the Blue Jackets. In July of 2015, Reilly signed a 2-year ELC with the Minnesota Wild, making his NHL debut on January 9th, 2016. He scored his first NHL goal on February 13th, 2016 against the Boston Bruins, funnily enough. Before being traded, Reilly played 84 games and had 4 goals and 18 points.

Reilly was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in February of 2018 for a 5th round pick in the 2019 NHL draft (used to take Matvey Guskov). In 90 games with the Habs, Reilly had 3 goals for 23 points. Reilly was then traded to the Ottawa Senators for Anthony Sturtz and a 5th round pick in the 2021 NHL draft.

Reilly, in his time in Ottawa, put up 1 goal and 31 points in 70 games. He was traded to the Boston Bruins the night before the deadline and since being traded, in the regular season, put up no goals and 8 assists in 15 games to go along with 3 points in 8 playoff games. Reilly plays a strong two way game and has the ability to play both the power play, on the second unit, and some minutes on the penalty kill.

Plugging Mike Reilly into the defensive formula is a little more challenging, as the Carolina Hurricanes are only guaranteed for Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce to be in the lineup next year. Dougie Hamilton needs a new contract and one of Jake Bean, Brady Skjei, or Jake Gardiner are likely going to be selected by the Seattle Kraken. Going on the assumption of Dougie re-signing and Bean being selected by the Kraken, here’s the formula:

Slavin-Hamilton

Skjei-Pesce

Reilly-Keane/Sellgren/FA pickup

The third pair gets a little convoluted, as the right-handed spot is up for grabs, but Reilly would completely shore up the left-hand side without question. His ability to play both the power play (so we don’t have to see the man advantage disaster that is Jaccob Slavin leading a unit) and the penalty kill would be invaluable for the Carolina Hurricanes. His price shouldn’t be too expensive either, as his current contract is only for $1,500,000. A 2-3 and even potentially 4-year deal worth around $2.5-3 million dollars, to me, would be an absolute steal for a guy of Reilly’s caliber.

But will he make it to free agency? My guess is possibly – a good 75% chance. The Boston Bruins currently have $27 million in cap space, with players to resign such as Tuukka Rask (if he doesn’t retire), Jaroslav Halak, Brandon Carlo, Sean Kuraly, Trent Frederic, Zach Senyshyn, Nick Ritchie, Taylor Hall and David Krejci. I don’t see the Bruins resigning Reilly, so he would be a great pickup for any team, especially a team like the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, for the full list of free agents the Canes should pursue this offseason.

Brandon Saad

The first of many depth forwards on this list is going to be Brandon Saad, currently a winger for the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche. Saad, currently 28 years old, plays on the left wing for the Avs on a line with Tyson Jost and Valeri Nichushkin (even though the center is normally Nazem Kadri before he was suspended for a dangerous hit on former Carolina Hurricane Justin Faulk). Saad, in the regular season, had 15 goals and 24 points in 44 games; while in the playoffs, Saad notched 4 goals for 4 points in 5 games as the Colorado Avalanche swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round.

Brandon Saad was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks #43 overall in the 2nd round in the 2011 NHL draft, one spot after former Hurricane Victor Rask. In his draft year, Saad had 27 goals for 55 points in 57 games for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL, to go along with 3 goals for 11 points in 12 games in the playoffs in a semi-final exit at the hands of the Windsor Spitfires.

Saad would make his NHL debut for the Chicago Blackhawks the next year, playing in two games and having zero points. He was then sent back to the Saginaw Spirit, where he would be named Captain. Saad would have an insane year, scoring 34 goals en route to 76 points in just 44 games. In the playoffs, he would have 17 points in 12 games, (8 of those goals) in another second round exit, this time to the London Knights.

2012-2013 would be the first time Saad would be considered a regular for the Chicago lineup, this year playing in 46 games and having 10 goals for 27 points. In the playoffs, Saad would play in 23 games and score 1 goal to go along with 6 points as the Chicago Blackhawks would win the Stanley Cup. Saad would then finish 3rd in Calder voting behind notable players such as Jonathan Huberdeau and Brendan Gallagher and ahead of Jonas Brodin and number one overall pick Nail Yakupov.

Saad would play 2 more seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, putting up 99 points in 157 games, 42 of those points being goals. A few weeks after the second Stanley Cup of his career, Saad, along with Michael Paliotta and Alex Broadhurst, was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets with a return of Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Jeremy Morin, and Corey Tropp. Saad would stay two years with the Blue Jackets, putting up 106 points in 157 games – 55 of those points being goals.

Now, comically enough, the team trading for Saad would lose the trade again. This time, the Blue Jackets traded Brandon Saad back to the Chicago Blackhawks alongside former Cane Anton Forsberg and a 5th round pick in 2018 for Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte, and a 6th round pick in 2017. Back in Chicago, Saad would play 3 seasons with 115 points in 220 games, 62 of those being goals.

Before this most recent season, Saad would be traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm. Saad has had great success since arriving in Colorado but you would think most people would. I haven’t been able to find anything about the Avs wanting to re-sign Saad, but with the Colorado Avalanche having about $20 million and needing to resign Vezina finalist Philipp Grubauer, Norris trophy finalist Cale Makar, and captain Gabriel Landeskog, it seems unlikely, but not impossible, that Brandon Saad will return.

Plugging Saad into the formula, you would end up with something like this:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas

Saad-Staal-Jarvis

That top 9 group has the making of talent and some two-way ability, alongside the ability to match with any lineup in the NHL. Adding Saad to Staal’s wing could easily be one of the best off-season signings.

Contract-wise, Saad is currently on the last year of a 6 year, $36 million dollar deal with an AAV of $6 million per year. I highly doubt he asks for an upgrade as his numbers haven’t been over the top amazing and to sign him, the Canes would probably have to offer around a 3 to 4 year deal with an AAV around $5-5.5 million, which the Carolina Hurricanes can afford with relative ease.

Saad also could complete the power play units, as the first unit would look something like Svechnikov, Aho, Teravainen, Trocheck and Hamilton, with the second unit being Necas, Staal, Saad, Niederreiter and either Bean or someone else depending on how the expansion draft plays out. Depth scoring has been a huge problem for the Carolina Hurricanes in both the regular season and in the playoffs, and signing someone like Saad could add a huge boost offensively.

Mikael Granlund

A player the Carolina Hurricanes know all too well, Mikael Granlund is currently a member of the Nashville Predators. Granlund was actually linked to the Canes both during the 2020 NHL offseason as a free agency target, and during the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline before the Nashville Predators went on a hot streak, going on to lose to the Hurricanes in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

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Mikael Granlund, currently 29 years old, was drafted 9th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2010 behind players like Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, current Carolina Hurricane Nino Niederreiter and former Hurricane Jeff Skinner. In Granlund’s draft year, he put up 13 goals to go along with 40 points in 43 games for HIFK in the Liiga in Finland, not including a goal and 6 points in 6 playoff games. These point totals would lead to Granlund being named the Liiga’s Rookie of the Year in that season.

Granlund would play two more seasons for HIFK, putting up 28 goals to go along with 87 points in 84 games, along with 5 goals and 18 points in 19 playoff games which included a championship with HIFK in the 2010-2011 season. Another highlight was his casual lacrosse-style goal for the Finnish World Junior team in 2010, which was an absolute beauty. The Wild would finally bring Granlund to North America in the 2012-2013 season, where he would split time between the NHL and AHL. Granlund would have 2 goals and 8 points in 27 games with the Wild, along with 10 goals and 28 points in 29 games with the Wild’s AHL affiliate at the time, the Houston Aeros.

Granlund ended up playing a total of 7 seasons in Minnesota, playing a total of 461 games and totaling 93 goals and 317 points. During the 2018-2019 season, Granlund was traded to the Nashville Predators for forward Kevin Fiala in a 1-for-1 trade. He has played 131 games for the Predators, and has amassed 31 goals and 31 assists for 62 goals.

Mikael Granlund has a wonderful goal-scoring touch while at the same time, boasting blistering speed. He’s lost some of his foot speed, but my goodness it’d be hard to say that he isn’t the fastest player on the ice most of the time during his shifts. Plugging him into the top 9 formula would look something like this:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Granlund-Trocheck-Necas

Niederreiter-Staal-Jarvis

Extra physical protection for Seth Jarvis on that third line, who I definitely think should/will make the roster next year, the second line has pure speed and skill with Necas and Trocheck having decently solid two-way ability, and the opportunity for the TSA line to be used year round. Again, this would be a top 9 that most teams would have difficulty staying with (that aren’t currently $17 million over the cap).

Speaking of cap space, let’s talk about a potential deal with Mikael Granlund. The Nashville Predators currently have $16 million in cap space. With Juuse Saros, Dante Fabbro, good rookie Jeremy Davies, another good rookie Eeli Tolvanen and a ton of other depth players to re-sign in the offseason, I highly doubt that Granlund returns, especially after testing the market last year.

Mikael Granlund is on the end of a 1-year, $3.75 million contract after going to free agency and not finding anything he likes. With his main value being his speed and his ability to score, I can see the Carolina Hurricanes offering him something like the Jesper Fast deal – a 2-3 year deal with about $3-3.5 million AAV. A deal like that seems fair for both sides, as Granlund gets to play in the top 9 with a lot of skilled players, with a few Finnish friends as well, and the Canes don’t pay him a ton of money and get good depth scoring and good speed to add to the top 6/9.

Also, Granlund has the ability to complete the powerplay units with the loaded first unit of Svechnikov, Aho, Teravainen, Trocheck, and Hamilton, and a super solid and borderline first unit anywhere else in the NHL with a second unit of Granlund, Necas, Jarvis, Niederreiter and potentially Jake Bean depending on how the expansion draft plays out. Depth scoring has been a huge problem for the Carolina Hurricanes in both the regular season and in the playoffs and signing someone like Granlund could add a huge boost offensively.

Another small, mostly unimportant but incredibly fun thing: Mikael Granlund is Finnish, which pairs well with the unholy amount of Finnish players the Carolina Hurricanes currently have/have had in the past. Hopefully, if Granlund does become a Carolina Hurricane, it ends up better than a former top 6 center/winger who was Finnish and became the villain of a round one matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs.

Tomas Tatar

Another top 6/9 winger, how creative! I cannot stress how important it is for the Carolina Hurricanes can get some type of reliable depth scoring. This playoffs is a prime example of how injuries can ruin a deep playoff run fast, as losing Nino Niederreiter, Vincent Trocheck and Warren Foegele left the Carolina Hurricanes running with Jordan Martinook playing as a top 9 center and before injury, playing Warren Foegele in the top 6, which isn’t the most ideal scenario.

30-year old Tomas Tatar is currently in the third round of the playoffs with the Montreal Canadiens after a complete and utter mental collapse and failure to clinch a series by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, and a thorough sweeping of the Winnipeg Jets in round two. Tatar was drafted 60th overall in the 2nd round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Tatar would be brought over to North America the next year and play for the Grand Rapid Griffins of the AHL, putting up 16 goals and matching that with 16 assists for 32 points in 58 games. Tatar would spend the next year bouncing between the AHL and NHL level, putting up 1 goal and 2 points in 9 games with the Detroit Red Wings and 24 goals with 57 points with the Grand Rapids Griffins, a nice step up in scoring from the year before.

Tomas Tatar would spend a full season in the AHL in the 2011-2012 season, putting up 24 goals again to go along with 58 points in 76 games. Tatar would then start his season in Slovakia as the 2012-2013 NHL season had a fun lockout to deal with. He had 10 points in 8 games with 5 goals, then made his return to North America, scoring 4 goals and 7 points in 18 games at the NHL level then 23 goals and 49 points in 61 games in his last season down in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup to boot. In those playoffs, Tatar scored a monster 16 goals to go along with 21 points in 24 games, being named the AHL player of the playoffs, winning the Jack A. Butterfield trophy.

As I mentioned, 2013 was his last year in the AHL, as Tatar had finally earned a NHL spot. In his first season playing full time NHL minutes, Tatar had 19 goals along with 39 points in 73 games with the Detroit Red Wings, with 0 points in 5 playoff games. Tatar would play 4 more seasons for the Red Wings, totaling 115 goals and 222 points in 407 games. During the 2017-2018 season, Tatar would be dealt at the deadline to the newcomer, the Vegas Golden Knights, for a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd round pick. Tatar would put up 4 goals and 6 points in 20 games, plus a goal and a assist in 8 playoff games.

Tomas Tatar would then be traded again, this time to his current team, the Montreal Canadiens, in a trade that would benefit both teams. Tatar, alongside first round pick Nick Suzuki, would head to Montreal for former captain of the Habs, Max Pacioretty. Tatar has had a good amount of success with the Canadiens, totaling 57 goals and 149 points in 198 games. Tatar is on the last year of a 4-year, $21.2 million dollar deal he signed with the Red Wings back in 2017.

Now, do I think Tatar will hit unrestricted free agency like he is supposed to? With the Canadiens having around $12 million in cap and needing to resign Phillip Danault, Joel Armia, Artturi Lehkonen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and a few other depth pieces, as well as the fact that Tatar was healthy scratched for Jake Evans in Game 6 of the first round, tells me there is a high chance Tatar won’t re-sign with the Montreal Canadiens.

What would a contract for Tatar look like, you ask? Well, my guess would be something around his current contract, about 3-4 years and somewhere between $5-5.5 million. The Carolina Hurricanes can fit this into the current budget, and plugging him into the top 9 formula, a lineup with Tatar could look something like:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Tatar-Trocheck-Necas

Niederreiter-Staal-Jarvis

Again, more physical line with Jarvis, a la Svechnikov being with Staal his rookie year (partially because Staal was used as top 6 in the absence of Erik Haula), a second line that could honestly be dropped in Buffalo and become a top line they haven’t seen in years and the reuniting, hopefully full time, of the TSA line.

Once more, Tatar would complete the powerplay units. With a first unit of Svechnikov, Aho, Teravainen, Trocheck and Hamilton and a second unit of Tatar, Jarvis, Necas, Niederreiter and potentially Jake Bean depending on how the expansion draft plays out. Depth scoring has been a huge problem for the Carolina Hurricanes in both the regular season and in the playoffs and signing someone like Tatar could add a huge boost offensively. This is becoming a bit of a broken record, but it is incredibly important for the Canes to find someone that can score 15-20 goals and produce consistently.

Adam Pelech

This will be the only defenseman on this list, but for good reason – I believe that Adam Pelech is the literal perfect fit for the Carolina Hurricanes on defense. The Hurricanes are almost certain to lose a left-handed defenseman in the expansion draft, whether it be Jake Bean, a former Francis pick who is starting to play like the 13th overall pick he was selected with, Brady Skjei, a top 4 guy who has played well in his time with Carolina, whether that be because of the Brett Pesce effect or not, or Jake Gardiner in a trade where the Canes give the Kraken something for taking him.

Adam Pelech, currently 26, was drafted with the #65 overall pick in the 3rd round in the 2012 NHL entry draft. In his draft year, Pelech put up 20 points in 44 games for the Erie Otters in the OHL, though his -20 +/-, which is never a good stat to judge players, wasn’t wonderful. The next year, wearing the A, Pelech had a better year, scoring 40 points in 59 games.

Pelech would continue to improve, as in 2013-2014, he would notch 54 points in 60 games with a plus/minus of 52, to go along with 7 points in 14 playoff games. This would be his last year in Juniors as in 2014-2015, Pelech would make his AHL debut with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, playing the full season and putting up 11 points in 65 games.

Pelech would make his NHL debut in the 2015-2016 season, putting up 2 points in 9 games before only playing 27 games at the AHL level, having 7 points to boot. Another year of bouncing around the NHL and AHL level, with 10 points in 44 games and 5 points in 13 AHL games. Pelech would finally become a full time NHLer in 2017 and in the span of 4 years, would play 303 games and put up 75 points.

Now, his point totals aren’t great. “Why would the Carolina Hurricanes go after him?”, absolutely no one asks. Pelech is truly one of the many good Islanders defenders who have elite defensive skill. Pelech, along with Devon Toews (when he was an Isles player) and Ryan Pulock, are absolutely insane defenders that Lou Lamoriello has had for far too long without issue.

Pelech’s advanced numbers prove this true even more. According to Moneypuck, in the regular season, Pelech blocked 73 shots, which is in the top 50% and has 25 takeaways, which is good for 14th in the NHL among defensemen. As a pairing with Ryan Pulock, in the regular season, they had the 10th lowest goals against among defensemen that played over 500 minutes together.

What would a contract look for someone like Pelech? Does he even hit the open market? Well, this would be the time for the Carolina Hurricanes to again take advantage of a team with no cap space. The Islanders have a solid $-14,168 in cap space heading into the offseason, needing to re-sign Ilya Sorokin, Anthony Beauvillier and Casey Cizikas. Pelech doesn’t have to be protected in the expansion draft either, which means the Isles are a little screwed.

Now, the Carolina Hurricanes should take full advantage of this situation by either trading for the rights to Adam Pelech, or getting revenge and offer sheeting a team that had no effect on the Sebastian Aho offer sheet dilemma (aside from having a defenseman named Sebastian Aho who some people thought the Canes took in the 2015 NHL draft). A contract for Adam Pelech would probably look like 4-5 years and about $4.5-5 million in cap space.

What would the defensive core look like with Adam Pelech? For starters, it would maintain the narrative that the Carolina Hurricanes have the deepest defensive core in the league, with a lineup of:

Slavin-Hamilton*

Skjei-Pesce

Pelech-Keane/Sellgren/FA pickup

*- being that he re-signs with the Canes (which he should)

Now, tell me another team that can even come close to this lineup. There isn’t one. Colorado might the closest team but they fall at the bottom pairing. The Carolina Hurricanes would also still have around $8 million (assuming Hamilton is re-signed and Gardiner is traded/taken at the draft), which is enough to do most things you need to do to finish the lineup.

Now, do the Carolina Hurricanes really need Adam Pelech? Not at all. Truthfully, the Canes’ last need is a defenseman, especially one that is left-handed. But would Adam Pelech be really good for the Canes, or any other team to have? Absolutely. Giving Keane a guy who can cover for you when you make a boneheaded move is a key piece in development; just look at Dougie Hamilton with Jaccob Slavin and again without him. Plus, it wouldn’t be hard to get him, as the Islanders don’t have any cap space and need to move some money quickly.

Mike Hoffman

The last, and to me absolutely most important, top 6/9 forward on this list is Mike Hoffman, currently of the St Louis Blues. Hoffman, who has had some controversy in the past, is a scoring winger in every sense. Hoffman has a natural knack for scoring, going all the way back to his junior days. If there is anyone on this list that the Carolina Hurricanes should target in free agency this year, it’s Mike Hoffman.

Hoffman, currently 31 years old, was drafted with the 130th overall pick by the Ottawa Senators in the 2009 NHL draft. In his draft year, Hoffman had 52 goals along with 94 points in 62 games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. Hoffman would also score 21 goals to go along with 34 points in 19 playoff games. That season, he was named to the QMJHL first all-star team.

Hoffman didn’t slow down, even though he was now on the Saint John Sea Dogs. Wearing the A, Hoffman had 46 goals and 85 points in 56 games. In the playoffs, Hoffman put up 11 goals and 24 assists. This production led Hoffman back to the QMJHL first all-star team, as well as being named the QMJHL MVP, winning the Michel Briere trophy. This would be Hoffman’s last year in juniors, as he would move to the AHL next season.

Hoffman played in 74 games for the Binghamton Senators, totaling 7 goals and 25 points. He also played 4 games for the Elmira Jackals in the ECHL, having 3 points in 4 games. In the AHL playoffs, Hoffman had a goal and 9 points in 19 games en route to a Calder Championship. Hoffman would make his NHL debut in the 2011-2012 season, playing one game and not having a point. He would go on to play 76 games in the AHL, having 21 goals and 49 points.

Hoffman would play another 3 games for the Ottawa Senators in the 2012-2013 season, still unable to secure his first point. He would return to the AHL, playing in 41 games and turning in a solid 13 goals and 28 points, this time wearing the assistant captain’s A. Hoffman would see an increase to his NHL time in the next year, having 6 points in 25 games including 3 goals. Hoffman scored his first goal on March 8th, 2014. He would then return to the AHL, this time being named Captain, and he would have a breakout year, scoring 30 goals to go along with 67 points in 51 games.

2013-2014 would be Hoffman’s last year in the AHL, as he finally secured a full-time NHL job with the Ottawa Senators. In a total of 342 games, Hoffman would end up with 107 goals and 230 points, not including 7 goals and 14 points in 25 playoff games for the Sens in 2015 and 2017. On June 19th, 2018, Hoffman would be traded to the San Jose Sharks amid a controversy with Erik Karlsson; the Sharks would then flip him to the Florida Panthers.

Mike Hoffman would stick around with the Florida Panthers for 2 seasons, totaling 65 goals and 129 points in 150 games with the Panthers, not including 3 goals and 5 points in 4 games in the playoffs in 2020. Hoffman would then test free agency. After not seeing anything particularly enticing anywhere else, Hoffman would take a one year, “prove it” deal for $4 million with the St Louis Blues.

Hoffman was a good player on the Blues, totaling 17 goals and 36 points in 52 regular season games, to go along with 1 goal and no assists as the Blues would be swept by the Colorado Avalanche. With rumors of him being traded at the trade deadline, I don’t see Hoffman returning to the Blues next year. Additionally, the Blues have around $15 million in cap while needing to re-sign Vince Dunn, Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Zach Sanford, Ivan Barbashev and Jaden Schwartz.

Now, what would a potential deal look like for Mike Hoffman? My thought is that he’ll probably take another one year deal or potentially 2-3 years, right before he gets to 35 (unless a team overpays and gives him too much term). He probably gets around the same money, but potentially something lower. I think a contract that looks like 3 years, $3.75 million makes sense for both sides. Hoffman gets contract security with some term and only a slight pay cut for a team that’ll make it past the first round. The Canes get a lethal shooter that can play in the top 6/9. Plugging Hoffman into the formula, we get:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Hoffman-Trocheck-Necas

Niederreiter-Staal-Jarvis

Once more, Hoffman completes the power play units. Unit one would look like Svechnikov, Aho, Teravainen, Trocheck and Hamilton. Unit two would look like Hoffman, Jarvis, Necas, Niederreiter and potentially Bean with how the expansion draft plays out. Once again, depth scoring has been a huge problem for the Carolina Hurricanes in both the regular season and in the playoffs, and signing someone like Hoffman could add a huge boost offensively and could, almost overnight, fix the biggest problems the Canes have when it comes to winning in the playoffs.