On July 1, 2024, the Carolina Hurricanes were losing a lot of very important players from their lineup. It was expected to be a rough day for the Caniacs, and they were right about that. While the team would try to fill those holes with new players, it was tough to watch them leave for new teams. That's the business of hockey. You can't keep your players forever.
Among the players set for free agency last season were Teuvo Teravainen, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, and Stefan Noesen. The team was also about to lose deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel, but they flipped his signing rights to Tampa Bay for a draft pick before losing him for nothing. It was a loaded class of free agents heading out the door. However, history might show it was for the better.
Pesce and Noesen stay in the division
Of the losses the Hurricanes suffered last July, Brett Pesce was the toughest as a homegrown player. Pesce was an integral part of the team's return to relevance, but it was time for him to spread his wings. The New Yorker headed back to the north, signing a six-year deal with the Devils. He missed New Jersey's first nine games as he recovered from an injury suffered during the playoffs.
For Stefan Noesen, his signing with the Devils signaled his return to New Jersey. Noesen played for the Devils during parts of three seasons from 2016 to 2019. While he was little more than a depth player then, Noesen's time in Raleigh turned him into a power play threat in front of the net. His three-year deal was well earned after consecutive career seasons with the Hurricanes.
Noesen continued his upward trend, notching his first 20-goal, 40-point season in the NHL, scoring half of his 22 goals on the power play. Pesce saw a slight uptick in points, too, finishing with 17 points in 72 games. Pesce was a beast during the Devils' first round series with the Hurricanes, providing three assists, while Noesen had a goal and an assist in New Jersey's five-game loss.
Skjei gets a major payday
After a successful stint with the Hurricanes, Brady Skjei was another highly coveted free agent in the 2024 class. He'd flourished into a great offensive defenseman after scoring 18 goals in 2022-23 and 47 points in 2023-24. Nashville stepped up to the plate and took a major swing, bringing in Skjei on a seven-year, $49 million deal along with Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.
Despite shelling out a ton of money, the Predators were one of the biggest underperformers this season. Skjei hit 10 goals for the third straight season, and was over 30 points for a fourth straight season, but his -24 +/- was an eye sore. He was second to captain Roman Josi in TOI, averaging just under 22 minutes as Nashville finished 7th in the Central Division.
Turbo lines up next to the next big thing
The only team below Nashville in the Central Division was the Chicago Blackhawks, though that was to be expected. For Teuvo Teravainen, it was a return home after eight years with the Hurricanes. Teravainen formed a formidable duo with Sebastian Aho, becoming the organization's most dynamic scoring duo.
Teravainen opted to return to the team that drafted him, signing a three-year deal to bolster a Chicago lineup building around Connor Bedard. Like in Carolina, he was a pass-first player, finishing second to Bedard with 43 assists. Teravainen was third on the Blackhawks with 58 points, posting his highest point total since 2021-22.
The only downside
When the Hurricanes traded Jake Guentzel to the Lightning before free agency began, it was certain that a deal would get done. Guentzel signed a seven-year, $63 million contract to stay with the Lightning. This also allowed the Bolts to let Stamkos walk, knowing they had his replacement in place. It stung that the Canes couldn't hold onto him, but they got something out of it.
Guentzel was exactly what we expected him to be next to Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. He scored a career-high 41 goals and added 39 assists to complete his second 80-point campaign. Guentzel was also solid in the postseason, scoring three goals and six points in five games before being eliminated by the Panthers.
It all worked out for the Hurricanes
In response to their departures, the Hurricanes didn't go all out to find their replacements. Instead, they added by committee. Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker became the group's new second pair. William Carrier, Jack Roslovic, and Eric Robinson were solid depth additions who could float throughout the lineup. Rookie Jackson Blake stepped up and surprised many in his first year, too.
It all led to the Hurricanes outperforming most people's expectations and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. While it's unfair to say they were better off losing the pieces they did, it turned out to be just fine at the end of the day. They're in a great spot heading into this offseason, giving them the opportunity to make a major splash.