If you were in bed before 11 pm on Tuesday, kudos to you for valuing your sleep because Eric Tulsky was still up and conducting business. Over the last few days, teams around the league hustled to get players signed to eight-year deals before the current collective bargaining agreement ended, with the new CBA capping the maximum term length at seven years.
The Carolina Hurricanes weren't in that boat. None of their future RFAs or UFAs were in need of eight-year deals, but it didn't stop them from getting an extension done. Less than two weeks ago, amidst our season previews, we contemplated whether this was going to be the last ride for the Canes' captain. On Tuesday night, we got our answer.
The team announced a one-year extension for Jordan Staal shortly before the official start of the new season, ensuring the captain would have one more year in Raleigh beyond the end of his current deal. The extension pays him a base salary of $900k with a signing bonus of $4 million. He can also earn up to $5.1 million in performance bonuses, though those are unknown at the moment.
The 2025-26 season represented a turning back of the clock for Staal, who enjoyed his best goal-scoring season in a decade with 20 goals and 36 points. He also surpassed several performance and team milestones, including the most games in Hurricanes history. In the playoffs, Staal was named the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient, leading the Canes to their first Stanley Cup in 20 years.
In the avalanche of signings completed over the last few days, this won't stand out much to the average hockey fan. However, for the Caniacs, this is good work by the front office. Staal is entering his 15th year with the Canes after being acquired in 2012, and his 21st in the NHL. The 2027-28 season, which this new deal covers, will tie him for the most in franchise history with Ron Francis (16).
While getting the captain back is good news, it feels like we're not far away from the announcement that '27-'28 will be the end of the line. Now, we're trying to pad a legacy almost certain to end in a jersey retirement. The Canes' window has never been wider, so they should remain in the thick of the hunt. Now, they have one of the gold standards along for the ride for at least two more years.
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