How much cap space do the Carolina Hurricanes have in the 2024 NHL offseason?

The Carolina Hurricanes have had a lot going for them in the 2024 NHL playoff race, as they have been battling the New York Rangers all season for that top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers have been the better team in 2023-24, but it would be unfair to underestimate Carolina for the 2024-25 season, especially if they may be one more game-changer from dominating from October to June. 

This year, we have seen them taking things up another notch when they added Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. But the major question following the season is, regardless of what happens, will they retain most of the core that catapulted them into serious contention for the top spot in the Metro, and will they have enough to make some additions?

Okay, so perhaps that’s two burning questions, but you get the point. Multiple question marks will still follow this Hurricanes team into the 2024 offseason even if they end up hoisting the Cup in June. 

Do the Carolina Hurricanes have enough cap space to retain and add?

With nearly $29.150 million in cap space, the Hurricanes look as though they have enough space on paper to bring those core players back and to make some serious additions. But consider this: Teuvo Teravainen, Jake Guentzel, Martin Necas, Jack Drury, Seth Jarvis, Brady Skjel, and Brett Pesce are all players Carolina must seriously consider re-signing if they want an identical team for the 2024-25 season. 

And to be honest, it would be tough to keep them all, though the pending restricted free agents listed above will likely stay no matter what, barring some unforeseen transaction. Teravainen has been in Carolina for years, as has Skjel, and Pesce. 

Necas, Drury, and Jarvis are shoo-ins to be re-signed, leaving Guentzel as potentially nothing more than a rental piece as his AAV should skyrocket to over eight-figures. That said, regardless of how the Hurricanes season ultimately plays out, they will likely need to make sound additions at reasonable prices if they want to continually compete next season.