Seven unrestricted free agents the Hurricanes could sign to flush out their depth

On day one of the NHL free agency, the Carolina Hurricanes were one of the teams making big moves. It wasn’t so much in the free agent market but landed two major players via the trade route. It is very on-brand for the Carolina Hurricanes to go a different route from everyone else, but that doesn’t mean that has to be the only route they take when pursuing their goals and hopes.

Due to the cap being flat and teams trying to do financial gymnastics to get their teams under the $82.5 million cap ceiling, there has been a little bit of a jam in the free agent market and a lot of the more recognizable names are still without a place to call home for the 2022-23 season. We know that the Hurricanes still have some question marks regarding their roster so there could be more additions to come.

Already this summer, we have seen the organization go out and sign long-term target Ondrej Kase to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in an attempt to flush out the depth on the team so we know that the organization isn’t against making the deep deeper via the free agent route. So if they are willing to go that way once, they’re going to be looking at how else they can make the team better if it makes sense.

Carolina as of right now still needs to find someone to play on the fourth line, and perhaps pick up some more depth in both the forwards and defensemen groups. I’m not going to include anyone in this list that is projected to be among the top earners in the NHL on their new deal. Consider this an attempt at finding bargain deals for the Canes to sign without being in the Hurricanes’ front office.

Phil Kessel

With the Hurricanes needing some scoring help, they could seek to continue to add to their already very upgraded top nine by throwing in one of the best goal scorers of the last decade into that mix. Former Arizona Coyote Phil Kessel is on the free agent market and with the lack of reports regarding anything to do with Phil the Thrill, could he make sense as an addition in Raleigh?

Kessel does have a reputation. He’s not someone that loves playing the defensive game, and he’s not quite as quick on his edges as he used to be. During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kessel got a reputation as being a little unsociable and not loving the media. He was labeled as someone with character issues, but those have since disappeared. With that said, you know very much what you are getting with Kessel.

He hasn’t missed a game since 2008 and has the 2nd longest NHL iron man streak, or consecutive games played streak. He’s roughly 25 off the record. He’ll always be an option. Kessel has only had once a season in this ironman streak in which he was under a half-a-point per game and that was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He’s the definition of consistency in an NHL player in both production and availability.

Kessel isn’t the same quality of player he was when he was in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization being a big part of the Pens team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups. He’s not what he was on the Penguins’ famous HBK line, but that doesn’t mean that the Madison, Wisconsin native isn’t a very serviceable player for his team. He’s won back-to-back Stanley cups and can be a leader for a team.

Sonny Milano

One of the big stars of last year’s Anaheim Ducks squad, Sonny Milano was not qualified by the Anaheim Ducks as General Manager Pat Verbeek seeks to make changes to the franchise that was formerly owned by Disney. Now, the unrestricted free agent is still without a home and the Hurricanes could seek to add the Massapequa, New York native to the roster.

Milano is not going to be someone that the fan base jumps and rejoices about. Not straight away at least. He is someone that can play in the middle six and score when he wants to. Opening the bank up and blasting the puck into the net isn’t his forte, but he is a very strong player in all three zones and relies mainly on his intelligence away from the puck. Whether that is calling for the Svechnikov as a pass, or just knowing where to be.

Sliding him into the third-line role as someone that can put the puck in the net while playing a complete game all over the ice, Milano is an ideal addition as a depth piece for any team that wants to be labeled as a contender. Capable of being a second powerplay unit guy and contributing from deep down the pecking order, there is a lot to like with this player and he will be a sought-after man I’d imagine.

I can hear you asking through the screen “how come we’re a week into free agency and Milano is still an unrestricted free agent?” and that is a very good question. I would hazard a guess that Milano is being affected by the backlog in the free agent market. Some of the best free agents that hit the market are still available and as time goes on, I suspect they will be signing for less than they thought they would be.

Danton Heinen

Another player that was not qualified as a restricted free agent, Danton Heinen had quite the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A versatile winger that can play both sides almost anywhere in the lineup, the former Boston Bruins draft selection has made quite the name for himself already at the NHL level. As a former member of the Penguins, Bruins, and Ducks, he’s been around.

This is one of those things that someone is going to interpret as a bad thing because Heinen would be on his fourth team in four years, but to be fair to him, most of that is not his fault. Pittsburgh had to let him go because they couldn’t afford to keep him, Boston traded him to strengthen for a cup run, and Anaheim just didn’t see anything they liked in him.

Carolina would be taking on an inconsistent young player that can be a difference maker in games at his best, but rarely gets there. Normally, he won’t find the scoresheet, but he’ll fill the mold of being an annoying presence that can create without the end product. He’ll look like he can be a very dangerous player but he won’t ever show the finish, and it hurts his production.

In Pittsburgh last year, Heinen played with some better players and tallied a very respectable 18 goals and 15 helpers for 33 points. Adding 30 points to your lineup for nothing isn’t easy and he could be a nice depth piece. I understand that a lot of people will not agree with this idea, and I do understand why, but I thought it was worth discussing the potential help Heinen brings.

Tyler Motte

This is someone we all got a good look at in the postseason. Tyler Motte was on the New York Rangers throughout the two teams’ seven-game series and with some questions regarding the bottom-six winger’s next home in the NHL, this is a player the Hurricanes could look to get to add some steel, bite, and ferocity to a team that is built particularly around its talent up front.

At 5’10, 190 lbs, Motte is not the largest man in the world and will not blow the world away with his size and strength, but he is known for being a pest and he isn’t someone you will ever see back away from a fight. He’s as tough as players come and his mentality and mindset is something the Hurricanes seem to love having and might lose having seen some of the free agents moved from last season.

Motte isn’t exactly a scoring threat, but his 7 goals and 8 assists can come at times when you need a goal. He only played in 53 games to get those totals so it isn’t entirely as awful as it seems. We know Motte can score in the pressure moments when it matters most because it felt like he scored whenever the Rangers needed him to in the series between the New York team and the Carolina Hurricanes.

When the Hurricanes traded one of their fourth-liners to San Jose, a need opened up for everything that Tyler Motte adds to an organization. We know that Motte is without a home and the longer time goes on, Motte will be more likely to sign at a discount. If Carolina can grab him for something less than $1 million, he quickly becomes a very valuable player to have in that bottom six.

Sam Gagner

There are a lot of options in this free agent class, but sixth we have a player who is not once he once was, but that seems to be the theme of this summer. Sam Gagner at 32 years old has long since past his best, but that doesn’t mean that the former 6th overall pick isn’t a player who can no longer be of any use. With Gagner, you know what you are getting from the grizzled veteran.

Having been viewed as a negative asset year ago, Gagner is someone that can be of great service to his team if put in a position to do so. He also ticks all the boxes for what you look at as a leader and as a leader off the ice, a guy with boatloads of experience, and a player that has been around for long enough to help the young core build on what they’ve already done to achieve more.

This year, Gagner completed his two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings putting up 13 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 81 games. Not earth-shattering numbers, but still totals that are very respectable. Combine that with everything he has off the ice and you get a player that could be of a lot of value both on and off the ice if the contract you sign him to is worth it.

A lot like everyone else on this list, I wouldn’t expect to see Gagner sign for more than $1 million but that isn’t exactly shocking at this point of Gagner’s career. We saw the impact of veteran leadership on this year’s Colorado Avalanche team that was finally able to get over the hump and capture the organization’s first Stanley Cup since 2001. Having someone like Gagner around may have a bigger impact than we think.

Tyler Ennis

This is not a big name, but he is a lot like Gagner. A grizzled, older veteran who has been around long enough to know every trick in the book. Tyler Ennis is another player who used to be a lot more prevalent than he is now. At this point in his career, he is someone that is best suited to sitting in the press box and coming into the lineup when you have suffered injuries.

Last season in 57 games with the Ottawa Senators, Ennis recorded 8 goals and 16 helpers for 24 points. Nothing shabby by any means, but as you have probably understood by now, he’s not someone that should be playing in the first line role. On the 4th line playing in games that are of the utmost importance, Ennis could be a good addition. However, there are more risks with Ennis than others.

Ennis has had a lot of injuries over the duration of his career and this most recent season is no different than the rest. I mentioned he only played in 57 games and that wasn’t because of a lack of skill. If Ennis could have stayed healthy earlier in his career, he would be a much wealthier person. He had the talent of an elite player and has just not been able to get back to what he was because of his injuries.

This does raise the question of what might happen if he was to find the fountain of youth in Raleigh, what could he be? But that’s not the question. Is Ennis someone the Canes should target? Well, in theory, yes. He’s a great addition to the team whether that is as a scratch or as a 4th liner. In either capacity, I believe this is a player that would work well in this system. It’s not ideal, but you won’t find anything ideal in the salary cap world.