The work of the Carolina Hurricanes front office is done for this summer and the focus is now on the coaches and players to prepare for the start of the season. Like any NHL roster, the faces have changed from the prior season but this summer saw the exit of some fan favorites. Looking back on the past decisions by the front office, could things have been handled better to keep the team in contention for the Metro Division? In short, yes.
It has been spoken about the failures or disappointments of the new faces brought to Raleigh by former general manager, Don Waddell. Dmitry Orlov was the big ticket purchase last summer and did not perform to his salary. Michael Bunting was paid a salary for someone who does not produce like a top-scoring forward. This was more evident by his quick departure at the deadline for a sniper, Jake Guentzel.
The real slip-up may have been in players re-signing to multi-year extensions. Antti Raanta came back on a one-year deal which was worth the risk for the price and term. But Jordan Staal, Jesper Fast, and Frederik Andersen all returned with multi-year contracts totaling a salary cap hit of $8.7 million per season. In particular, the captain received an extension to his age 37 season.
This was a group that was knocking on the door of the Stanley Cup and to bring back those three pieces for that term, knowing the holes in scoring from the playoff defeat was risky. Sure it is never a bad thing to bring back depth pieces, especially your captain but at some point changes were needed and still needed to this day the contracts will continue to prevent Eric Tulsky from further improving this squad.
Despite staying healthy and playing 80 games, Staal's production decreased, especially in goals, and was noticeably slower around the ever-developing speed in the NHL. Always playing a strong defensive game, Staal still has the size to shut down the opposition but his -14 rating is also concerning. With three years remaining on the contract, it is only natural to expect those numbers to decline.
Fast rarely eclipsed the 30-point marker despite being durable but managed to earn more money and term than expected. A solid depth piece for sure, the 32-year-old played with Staal to be the responsible, checking line on a team that did that well to begin. Unfortunately, that durability wore down and he was out for the playoffs and now this final year. Again, nothing surprising if you look at the trend of his long career and age.
Andersen's contract is affordable for a true number one netminder but Andersen has never been able to stay healthy enough to be the clear favorite in between the pipes. Even when healthy, Andersen never could carry the team through the playoffs.
Injuries occurred and despite a solid ending to the regular season, Andersen was arguably the difference against the New York Rangers and Igor Shesterkin. If this was the best option for the Canes you could live with it but having Pyotr Kochetkov proving his worth the last two seasons just to watch the team eliminated adds to the frustration and wonder of signing Andersen to a multi-year contract.
The past is in the past and this is the group that will go to battle this season. The team remains deep in every position and well-coached. That will keep them in the mix for the division and beyond for sure but Tulsky will need to get creative if further additions are to be acquired.