Two of the offseason's biggest contract sagas have ended in the last week. On Saturday, the Ducks locked center Mason McTavish into a six-year, $42 million deal. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild made Kirill Kaprizov the richest man in NHL history, settling on an eight-year, $136 million extension as he enters the final year of his deal.
While the likelihood of the Hurricanes landing either player was incredibly small, it didn't stop the rumors from flying. McTavish would've been a good fit for the Canes as the second-line center. Raleigh was thought to be a popular landing spot for Kaprizov, and the Canes could've given the Wild plenty to do it. That nothing exciting happened should come as no surprise.
With these signings out of the way, it won't be long until the next batch of rumors begins, and the Hurricanes are certain to be in the middle of it all. Here are three players I would love to see the team pursue, even if it doesn't mean anything to us now.
These are not players the Carolina Hurricanes are currently pursuing and aren't based on any rumors that I've seen online. I can't stress that point enough. They are simply moves that I think would be interesting to see and could potentially fill a need now or in the future. Don't place any stock in them actually happening.
Nazem Kadri
While the other players I'm talking about are pending free agents, Nazem Kadri still has time left on his contract beyond this season. Kadri is entering the fourth year of a seven-year contract that is set to expire after the 2028-29 season, when he's 38 years old. While it might not be the most palatable contract down the line, Kadri still brings some value now.
Kadri has been around the block a time or two, preparing to enter his 17th NHL season. The former Maple Leaf and Avalanche, and current Flame, has topped 30 goals three times and hit 87 points in the season he won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. While he's getting up there in age, Kadri still would help sure up the center position.
The Hurricanes, seemingly, plan for Logan Stankoven to take over the 2C position to begin the season. This preseason has been a positive sign of things to come, with Stankoven playing very well. However, if he struggles and Jesperi Kotkaniemi fails to fill that spot upon another opportunity, the Canes could look elsewhere to fill the position.
Artemi Panarin
I'm sure this won't get any Rangers fans who stumble across it upset. Artemi Panarin is in the final season of a seven-year contract with New York, and he has been phenomenal. Panarin has flown past a point-per-game each season, with last year (89 points in 80 games) being his closest to 1.00 per night. He has topped 90 points four times, including a career-high 120 in 2023-24.
Panarin has already turned down a team-friendly extension offer from the Rangers, leaving his future a little uncertain as we enter the 2025-26 season. The expectation that Panarin would take anything less than what he's deserved is crazy. He's not a veteran on his last leg. He's on the verge of turning 34 years old, and there's still something left in the tank.
This would not likely be an "in-season" move, unless the Rangers are so far out of the hunt that they sell everyone and everything. If he makes it to the open market next July, there will be plenty of teams willing to pay whatever it takes for his services. You best believe that the Carolina Hurricanes will be right there in the thick of it.
Jason Robertson
If Jim Nill were smart, and we know he is, he wouldn't entertain the idea of letting Jason Robertson get to free agency next offseason. While Robertson will only be an RFA on July 1, he would be one of the most coveted players without a contract. However, the team appears content to wait until the end of the season to see where things go.
Robertson is coming off consecutive 80-point seasons after reaching 46 goals and 109 points in 2022-23. While he has dealt with ailments and slow starts, he has remained a valuable part of the Stars' offense, which got even more lethal last season after the Rantanen trade with Carolina. He's being put in an excellent spot to hit numbers closer to his work from three years ago.
There are a million reasons why Robertson will remain a Dallas Star. They have plenty of money to ensure that they can accommodate any amount that Robertson wants. While he's set to become an RFA, the Stars still have two more years of team control, meaning a bridge deal is possible. It would take a home run offer for the Canes to land him. That doesn't mean it can't happen.
Again, I wouldn't bother holding your breath that anything will happen with any of these players. It's just rampant speculation for a team known to pursue every available star on the market. There are sure to be other big names that draw massive amounts of noise around the league. When a star becomes available, expect the Carolina Hurricanes to be one of the first teams mentioned.