The Hurricanes get ahead of next offseason, extending Logan Stankoven for 8 years

While July 1st focuses primarily on where this year's free agents will land, it's also the first time teams can get ahead of next year's problems. The opening of free agency also means players on expiring deals following the upcoming season can sign extensions. The Carolina Hurricanes have a few players in that boat, but the boat got a little lighter on Tuesday.

Before free agency officially began at noon, the rumblings around the league were that Logan Stankoven was set to sign a long-term extension with the Hurricanes. Once the deal was finalized, the final terms were eight years at $6 million per season. Stankoven was set to be a restricted free agent at the end of next season, though that changes with this new deal.

Stankoven was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the 2021 Draft, making his debut with the Stars in Raleigh on February 24, 2024. He was solid as a late-season call-up, scoring six goals and 14 points in 24 games. He led all rookies in scoring during the 2024 postseason with eight points in 19 games as the Stars reached the Western Conference Finals.

As the central piece of Carolina's return in the deal that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Stars at the trade deadline this season, Stankoven made an immediate impact. He scored a goal in his Hurricanes' debut, redirecting a shot on the power play to score the game-winning goal in a 4-2 home win over the Winnipeg Jets.

By the end of the regular season, Stankoven was sixth in rookie scoring with 38 points, and his playoff experience would prove invaluable to the Hurricanes. In Game 1 against New Jersey, he scored twice. In Game 1 against Washington, he tied the game mid-way through the third. Stankoven was one of the few bright spots in the Florida series, scoring three points in five games.

For the second straight postseason, Stankoven was the leading rookie scorer with eight points. He finished seventh in the Calder Trophy voting, receiving a fourth-place vote on one ballot. Stankoven is a bulldog who isn't afraid to get into scrums. He's a versatile piece who can fit in almost any spot in the Canes' lineup. He was built to be a Hurricane, and now he will be for many years.