Between the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup in the NHL and the Chicago Wolves reaching the Calder Cup Final in the AHL, it was an excellent season for the organization as a whole. While the offseason plans for the NHL team feel pretty set, there are far more moving pieces in the AHL, meaning the Western Conference champions could look a little different next season.
According to PuckPedia, only six forwards, five defensemen, and one goalie are under contract for the Chicago Wolves next season. Everyone else is either a restricted free agent or an unrestricted free agent once the market opens on July 1. It's setting up an offseason for Chicago that has far more intrigue than Carolina's.
Forwards
UFA | RFA |
|---|---|
Ryan Suzuki (Group 6) | Justin Robidas |
Noah Philp | Skyler Brind'Amour |
Givani Smith | Viktor Neuchev |
Josiah Slavin |
To me, the biggest question on the entire team surrounds former first-round pick Ryan Suzuki. He's a threat to become a UFA with a Group 6 status this summer. This happens when a player's contract expires when they are 25 years old or older, have played fewer than 80 games as a skater in the NHL, and have played professionally for at least three years.
Suzuki meets all three, playing two games with the Canes during the 2024-25 season. Suzuki led the Wolves in scoring last season (12-47-59) before posting 48 points this year and leading Chicago in points this postseason (5-13-18). While Suzuki has been productive, I have concerns about whether the team sees him making the jump anytime soon. It might be time for him to find a new home.
Givani Smith was a great story during the preseason, earning a deal after signing a PTO during training camp. However, he was limited to five points in 25 games. I would like to see the team re-sign Noah Philp. He was excellent during the team's postseason run. I also think that Josiah Slavin should return, seeing as he's the captain and his brother is in the organization, too.
Defense
UFA | RFA |
|---|---|
None | Domenick Fensore |
Aleksi Heimosalmi | |
Ronan Seeley | |
Kyle Masters |
On defense, the Wolves are a little more secure, especially on the right side. Along with Noel Fransen making the jump to the U.S., Joel Nystrom's extension kicks in, and Charles Alexis Legault and Bryce Montgomery also remain under contract. The lone left-shot defenseman right now is Dominik Badinka. Otherwise, everyone else is a free agent of some kind.
Juuso Valimaki was poised to be the only defenseman in the group to become a UFA. However, he signed with a team in Sweden on Tuesday. I thought he was excellent during his time with the Wolves and am a little surprised he wasn't going to get another shot in the NHL next year. Otherwise, the only other player that likely won't return is Kyle Masters, who played just ten games in the ECHL.
Goalies
UFA | RFA |
|---|---|
Amir Miftakhov (Group 6) | Cayden Primeau |
Nikita Quapp |
In the net, the only player signed to a contract next season is Ruslan Khazheyev, who enters 2026-27 in the final year of his entry-level deal. Last I checked, you prefer to have three or four guys signed, so the Wolves will likely look to get something done with Cayden Primeau, who served as their starter once he returned to the organization in November.
Like Suzuki, Amir Miftakhov is a Group 6 UFA, so his status is up in the air. While I do think the team needs to give Khazheyev or Nikita Quapp a serious look, they might be hesitant. They spent the season in the ECHL as the tandem for the Greensboro Gargoyles, who finished last in the league with 45 points. Neither goalie put together good numbers, though that could be said for the entire team.
As for the rest of the team
I think the Hurricanes will re-sign most of their remaining RFAs to short-term deals. The exception will be Noel Gunler, who has also already signed with a Swedish team for next season. Otherwise, I see no reason for the team not to bring everyone else back, unless their rights are traded at some point this offseason. That could be the case for one or two of them.
There are so many possibilities for the team up front. One would have to wonder what the futures of Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum hold. Both seem ready to make the jump, but their paths to the NHL are blocked by the fact that all 14 forwards on the Canes' roster are signed for next season. It feels increasingly likely that one of them could be traded this offseason, too.
The Wolves will also likely get Ivan Ryabkin for a full season. After a short stint in Chicago after camp, Ryabkin tore through the competition in the QMJHL. He returned to the Wolves for their stretch run and postseason play, and he was very solid. The team will also get Charlie Cerrato for his first professional season. He played in Game 1 of the Division Semifinals after signing his PTO.
If the Wolves can figure out what they're doing between the pipes, they'll be in a position to make another deep run next season. They have plenty of weapons up front, and their defense will be full of players who've been there before. Of course, it's easy to say all of this now. Things could look very different once October rolls around.
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