The action continues to be limited for the Carolina Hurricanes this offseason. They've yet to make a major splash in free agency, though they haven't been completely quiet, with their lone signing seeing them bring Zachary Sawchenko back into the organization on July 4. Still, there is business that needs to be handled, and they got one piece of it done on Thursday morning.
The team announced that they had re-signed defenseman Aleksi Heimosalmi to a one-year, two-way contract as he begins his third season in North America. He'll make $850,000 in the NHL, or $85,000 in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. He was one of two RFAs on the blue line for the Wolves, with Ronan Seeley opting for arbitration by Sunday's deadline.
Heimosalmi, 23, was drafted in the second round by the Hurricanes in 2021. He signed his entry-level deal shortly after being selected and stayed in Finland for a few more seasons. He made the jump across the pond last year, playing 56 games and recording 14 points. This season saw his production tick in the right direction, finishing the season with 17 points while adding two more in the playoffs.
The right-shot defenseman is yet to make his NHL debut, and the path to get there is currently blocked by the likes of Joel Nystrom and Charles Alexis Leagult, among others. Still, Heimosalmi is expected to be a big part of the Wolves' defensive core this coming season. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get at least a shot with the Canes at some point in 2026-27.
The list of RFAs for the Hurricanes has shrunk by one, but there is still a little work left to do. Along with settling Seeley's contract, the Wolves still need to bring Cayden Primeau, Justin Robidas, and Viktor Neuchev back. All three were tendered qualifying offers, allowing the Canes to maintain their rights. This signing checks a very important box for the organization.
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