With the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final behind us and the start of free agency quickly approaching, teams have made moves left and right to ensure a favorable spot before the craziness begins. The Carolina Hurricanes joined the fun on Friday, re-signing a pending free agent before he hits the open market.
The Hurricanes announced an extension for Eric Robinson on Friday, signing him to a four-year deal worth $6.8 million ($1.70m AAV). It's the type of long-term, low-cap contract we've seen employed several times over the last few seasons. It's reminiscent of William Carrier's six-year, $12 million contract the Canes signed him to last offseason.
It's a well-earned raise for Robinson, who signed a one-year contract for under $1 million last July, bringing him to Raleigh after stops in Columbus and Buffalo. Robinson set career highs in goals (14), assists (18), and points (32) in his first season with the Hurricanes, becoming a mainstay on the team's fourth line, though he can be utilized throughout the lineup.
Robinson formed fun chemistry early in the season with Martin Necas. One moment that stands out is their play in Edmonton early in the season during the State Fair trip. Robinson connected with Necas on a beautiful backdoor play to tie the game late in regulation in an eventual 3-2 overtime win. He followed that up by scoring his first goal with the Hurricanes two nights later in Calgary.
His best night offensively was his three-point performance against the Blues in mid-November. Once again, it was his connection with Necas that shone through. Robinson had a goal and two assists, setting up Necas on both occasions. He and Necas connected on 11 goals this season. Post-deadline, it was Robinson and Mark Jankowski who meshed well together.
There wasn't much offense from Robinson during the postseason, scoring a goal and two assists in 15 games. His one goal was a big one, extending the Canes' lead in Game 3 against the Washington Capitals in the second round with a snipe that caught Logan Thompson guessing. Robinson made up for it by throwing his body around, finishing with 60 hits, fourth on the team during the playoffs.
Along with it being a good signing from an economic and team perspective, there's a nice human element to the deal. Robinson's wife, Alli, gave birth to a baby girl during the first round. This deal gives him a chance to plant roots in Raleigh and not worry about the stresses of moving from city to city. It's a small detail in a hockey sense but has to mean quite a deal to Robinson and his family.
After the extension, the Hurricanes still have the fifth-most cap space in the league, sitting a little over $26.7 million. Depth at every position is essential when making a run. While Robinson isn't a major name who'll score 60-70 points, he knows his role and does his job well. Robinson fits the team's identity and is valuable on the penalty kill. I like this move for the Hurricanes.