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Carolina Hurricanes to Face Most Important Offseason in Years

By Matthew Nidiffer

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: Playoff towels are draped oj the seats before Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: Playoff towels are draped oj the seats before Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 30: Playoff towels are draped oj the seats before Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 30: Playoff towels are draped oj the seats before Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

With several key UFAs and RFAs to sign and/or extend, the Carolina Hurricanes are facing down one of the most important off-seasons in franchise history. Tom Dundon, Don Waddell, Eric Tulsky and Co. have their work cut out for them in the coming weeks, but they haven’t really given us a good reason to not trust them – yet.

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This offseason has technically been underway for several weeks now, since the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed their 2nd Stanley Cup victory in as many years back on July 7th. The past several days, though, have been particularly tumultuous.

All 30 teams required to participate in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft were required to have their protected lists sent in to the Kraken organization yesterday (at the time of writing); the offseason ‘trade deadline’ before the roster freeze prior to the cutoff time for submitting protection lists saw several top-tier trades including a three-way trade that sent Nolan Patrick to Vegas by way of Nashville, Ryan Ellis to Philadelphia, and Philippe Myers alongside Cody Glass to Nashville by way of Philadelphia.

The New York Islanders also sent Andrew Ladd, a 2021 2nd round pick (60th overall), a conditional 2nd round pick in 2022, and a conditional 3rd round pick in 2023 to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for…. absolutely nothing, so there’s that, too.

The Carolina Hurricanes have remained mostly quiet so far this summer. All they’ve done as of yet is re-sign Morgan Geekie to a one-year, two-way deal, and acquired goaltending prospect Dylan Wells from Edmonton for an absolute NHL legend: Future Considerations. The Canes also subverted most of the fanbase’s expectations with their protected list, as seen below.

https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1416765779379466243

After this Wednesday’s Expansion Draft (in which the Canes are likely to lose one of Nino Niederreiter or Jake Bean), the Carolina Hurricanes have their work cut out for them. With the Metropolitan Division getting back together for this upcoming season, the Carolina Hurricanes have no choice this offseason but to get better. Read on to find out how they can do just that.

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