Last summer, the Carolina Hurricanes got ahead of the 2026 offseason by inking massive extensions for Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. Both signed eight-year deals at team-friendly prices. Based on their play this regular season and postseason, those are looking like good deals. On Monday morning, the Hurricanes checked another box by extending a pending free agent.
The Canes announced a two-year deal with center Mark Jankowski, keeping him in Raleigh through the 2027-28 season. The new contract carries a $1.85 million cap hit for both years. Jankowski was one of four unrestricted free agents on the roster at the end of the season, joined by deadline addition Nicolas Deslauriers, defenseman Mike Reilly, and goalie Frederik Andersen.
Acquired from the Nashville Predators at last season's trade deadline, Jankowski hit the ground running with the Hurricanes, scoring twice in his team debut against the Jets. He finished with eight goals in 19 games during the regular season after the trade, though he provided just one assist in seven postseason games.
Dressing in 68 games and spending almost all of his playing time on the fourth line this season, Jankowski put together his best offensive season since his sophomore campaign in 2018-19 with Calgary. He topped 20 points for the first time since that year, scoring three goals in the last three games to top double digits for the fourth time. He has one assist through two playoff rounds.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little surprised by the decision to bring him back. There's no denying that Jankowski fits the system well, and his size on the fourth line is beneficial. However, it continues to block the centers in Chicago from making the jump, especially if the team is content with running Aho, Stankoven, Staal, and Jankowski up the middle.
Along with determining what to do with the remaining UFAs in the system, the last big item on the Hurricanes' agenda this summer is agreeing to an extension with rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the postseason. The Hurricanes have 13 forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies on their active roster under contract for next season.
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