The days are slowly counting down before the Carolina Hurricanes raise their Stanley Cup banner at the Lenovo Center against the Panthers. The lack of activity this offseason hasn't helped time go any faster, so we relish the days when the front office gets a little active, whether it be in the NHL or the AHL. Here are a few things that got done today for the organization.
The Wolves retain a valuable leader up front on a one-way deal
With as much loss as the Chicago Wolves have suffered this offseason, keeping Josiah Slavin in the fold is a huge win for the organization. The Wolves announced the extension on Monday, bringing their captain back for two more seasons, and there's no reason to expect he drops that "C" any time soon.
Slavin has played the last two seasons with the Wolves after bouncing around the AHL in the years before. He recorded 25 points in 69 games in Chicago during the regular season and added seven more during their run to the Calder Cup Final. Slavin also made his Hurricanes debut at the end of the season, appearing in the first two stops of the team's season-ending four-game road trip.
It's important to note that Slavin, who did not receive a qualifying offer from the Hurricanes before free agency began, signed an exclusive deal with the Wolves. He can't be called up by the Canes as a result. He would need to sign an NHL contract for that to happen. Still, keeping him around Chicago is big for the team after such a big season.
The Canes and the Sabres made a deal that could be good in the future
The big club did a little work on Monday, too. They sent future considerations to the Buffalo Sabres for the signing rights to Russian forward Stiven Sardarian. What little online consensus that exists indicates this is a good move for the Canes, albeit one that will likely lean that way because they didn't give up anything to get it done.
After tearing through Russia's youth competition, Sardarian made the jump to North America after the Sabres selected him 88th overall in 2021. He played one season in the USHL with Youngstown before committing to the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA. In two years, he recorded just nine goals and 21 points in 61 games.
Sardarian transferred to Michigan Tech for the 2024-25 season, and his production reached a new level. He scored more in one year at Michigan Tech than he had in the last two years combined, leading the team with 35 points. Sardarian followed it by leading the team again last year, posting 44 points and earning Forward of the Year honors in the CCHA.
The Sabres never signed Sardarian to his entry-level deal, though that could change soon. He's been assigned to the Wolves, per the team's official press release, so this is a bit of good news for both the NHL and AHL teams. He possesses a good shot, but Sardarian is a true playmaker, finishing in the Top 5 in assists in the NCAA last season (32). I'm excited to see what he'll do this year.
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