The news that all Carolina Hurricanes fans have been waiting for this summer happened just before the calendars turned to September. Seth Jarvis's new contract has been finalized for $63.2 million over 8 years. The new contract was never in doubt but it is never comfortable to be this close to training camp without one of your best players signed to a contract.
The salary cap hit this season for the new contract will be $7,420,087, which according to PuckPedia leaves the Canes with $79,913 in available salary cap space. First-year general manager, Eric Tulsky, was very creative with the contract by having an amount of the total deferred, allowing the salary cap hit to be smaller for the beginning of the contract. This was needed for this season especially as the Canes are up against the salary cap ceiling. Next offseason, Tulsky will have some significant contracts off the books in Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Frederik Andersen, Tyson Jost, Brendan Lemieux, and Jack Roslovic.
Another player that will be off the books next season is Jesper Fast, who was recently determined out for his contract's final season due to injury. It's an unfortunate ending to a "glue guy" on the depth chart but his salary not being on the books this season helped fit Jarvis's contract.
After drafting the Winnipeg native 13th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Canes have seen Jarvis take great strides at the NHL level. Last season was a career season for the 22-year-old. Jarvis finished with 33 goals and 67 points. Additionally, Jarvis saw his average time on the ice rise over 2 minutes a game. The confidence coach, Rod Brind'Amour has in the youngster has grown in all areas of the ice. At times last season, Jarvis saw himself on a defensive line with the captain, Jordan Staal, and Fast.
With the change in the roster this offseason, Jarvis will be expected to not only duplicate last season's production but increase it greatly. Still, a team looking to contend, the Canes will be relying on the future of the franchise to take the team to the next level.
The present and more importantly, the future is bright with long-term contracts for Sebastian Aho, Jarvis, Jaccob Slavin, Martin Necas, and Andrei Svechnikov. The prospect group is strong on defense, which is sure to bring a supporting cast for Slavin.
All business is wrapped up and hockey will be played this month! It's time to relax and enjoy Labor Day Weekend before the Canes get back at it shortly with the start of training camp quickly approaching.