The Carolina Hurricanes will be all over trade discussions all summer, but their work in free agency will likely be minimal. A big reason for that is the lack of impactful, top-of-the-lineup players available on the open market. With Alex Tuch going to Washington, there aren't a ton of great options, so most teams will resort to trades to improve, and the Canes will be no exception.
Truthfully, there isn't a ton that needs to be done to this team after winning the Stanley Cup. However, this front office is never satisfied, so Eric Tulsky will keep his finger on the pulse and find something that he thinks makes sense for this team. Here's a short checklist of things for the team to get worked out as free agency pokes its head around the corner.
1. Handle the growing Alexander Nikishin situation
One of the biggest stories concerning the Hurricanes before the draft was the situation with Alexander Nikishin that made him a serious threat to be traded. His name was floating around in trade rumors, with as many as six teams interested in acquiring him. The pending RFA is clearly a hot commodity, though nothing is preventing the Canes from keeping him.
The situation got a little wilder on Saturday, when the Canes traded for the signing rights of pending UFA John Carlson. The long-time Capital and short-time Duck had his rights acquired for the Canes' sixth-round pick and Kyle Masters. Carlson, a right-shot defenseman, is not guaranteed to sign a new deal with Carolina, though the Canes are reportedly on the list of teams that he would sign with.
It appears increasingly likely that the Canes will determine their next steps after talking with Carlson. If they get him under contract before Wednesday, Nikishin is likely as good as gone. If they don't sign him, the door might be open to keep him around, unless the Canes find another defenseman that they would like to trade for. Then, we might be right back where we started.
2. Revisit a potential Hellebuyck deal, but don't pay an unreasonable price
One of the players that Nikishin was offered in a deal for was Winnipeg netminder Connor Hellebuyck. On Thursday night, the trade package to Winnipeg included Nikishin and the 31st pick, with likely other assets included. That never materialized, nor did Buffalo's offer, which reportedly featured the 4th pick in the draft, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, another roster player, and a little more.
That's a lot for any team to give up for a goalie, even one of Hellebuyck's pedigree. It's made even tougher when the draft passes, and you're giving up future first-round picks to make a move. If the Canes want to acquire Hellebuyck, there is a path to do so, but it's going to cost a lot. That could make it unlikely that we see the Hurricanes swing something that big.
Outside of Hellebuyck, there aren't many options that look appealing and would be considered upgrades over their current tandem, featuring Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov. They could bring back Frederik Andersen for one more year to run with the same trio that just won them the Stanley Cup, and I wouldn't bat an eye.
3. Find a trade partner for Jesperi Kotkaniemi
When the Stanley Cup was awarded and the first buy-out window opened up, there were several insiders who felt that Jesperi Kotkaniemi was a "lock" to be among those bought out before the window closed. However, we're approaching the start of free agency on Wednesday, and Kotkaniemi is still on the roster. Apparently, he wasn't as much of a lock as people thought.
The Hurricanes have tried to facilitate a Kotkaniemi trade for months. During the season, they said they wouldn't move him for the sake of making a trade. They needed something that made sense. Kotkaniemi has four years remaining on an eight-year contract with a $4.82 million cap hit. For a 25-year-old center and a growing cap, it's not the worst contract in the world.
The snag that the Canes could run into is the short list of teams that are in the market for a third-line or fourth-line center making that amount of money with cap flexibility. In March, I had Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Winnipeg on a list of potential destinations, but the last two might be on his 10-team no-trade list. I could also see teams like Anaheim, New Jersey, and Toronto as outside options.
4. Start planning for next summer
The Canes did an excellent job last summer of making sure they got a lot of their pending restricted and unrestricted free agents in 2026 signed ahead of time. Deals for Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven were especially crucial, and they're both looking pretty good right now. Looking ahead to June and July 2027, the Canes don't have a lot on their plate.
According to PuckPedia, the Hurricanes only have five players on the active roster who are playing on expiring deals. Those players are Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Jalen Chatfield, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Pyotr Kochetkov. All would be UFAs, and there are no current RFAs. That's the entire list, which I'd say is pretty good.
I imagine that this could be Staal's final season, though that's far from certain. Chatfield could be extended at some point this summer, though it's unclear what his value on the market would be. Martinook is another player who could ink a short-term deal. As for Gostisbehere and Kochetkov, I'm not sure. The Canes will work their magic, and we could be in for another relaxed summer next year.
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