RALEIGH, NC: After Thursday’s unexpected second-round 5-3 elimination loss against the New York Rangers, the Carolina Hurricanes begin an offseason with heartbreak and loss.
The Hurricanes began the playoffs knowing that this season would likely be their last with the core group fans have come to know – and love dearly. Nine players will be unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Other iconic Hurricanes, such as forward fan-favorite Seth Jarvis, right-winger Martin Necas, and center Jack Drury, enter the offseason as restricted free agents (RFAs). To make matters more concerning for fans, head coach Rod Brind’Amour has not yet signed an extension as the final year of his contract finishes.
The full list of Carolina free agents is as follows:
Dylan Coghlan (RFA)
Maxime Comtois (RFA)
Jalen Chatfield (UFA)
Tony DeAngelo (UFA)
Jack Drury (RFA)
Jake Guentzel (UFA)
Seth Jarvis (RFA)
Jordan Martinook (UFA)
Martin Necas (RFA)
Stefan Noesen (UFA)
Brett Pesce (UFA)
Antti Raanta (UFA)
Brady Skjei (UFA)
Ryan Suzuki (RFA)
Teuvo Teravainen (UFA)
After an impressive first-round performance against the New York Islanders, the club took on a rival team – the New York Rangers. The Rangers have been playing exceptional hockey all season long. They are President’s Trophy winners, the only NHL team during this year’s playoffs to complete a sweep. The Rangers took an early three-game lead against Carolina, with an expected second sweep. Carolina was also struggling with season-ending injuries from Pesce and defenseman Jesper Fast. (Pesce told reporters that he had “fractured (his) left fibula near his ankle in the first round” and did not return to in-game play.)
The Hurricanes didn’t give up that easily. They stunned the Rangers in Game 4 at home with impressive first and third-period performances. Carolina advanced to a Game 5, something that media, fans, and even the team themselves weren’t sure would happen. And they took momentum from Game 4 into a Game 5 win at Madison Square Garden.
Saturday marked the first round of player exit interviews. Goaltender Frederik Andersen, defensemen Brent Burns, Tony DeAngelo, Brady Skjei, Dmitry Orlov, Brett Pesce, and Jaccob Slavin all participated. Other Hurricanes, such as left-winger (and one of the NHL market’s most-sought-after UFAs) Jake Guentzel, center Evgeny Kuznetsov, right-winger Teuvo Teravainen, and captain Jordan Staal, spoke to media during the session.
Necas will not participate in exit interviews, as he is actively playing in the World Championship tournament for Team Czechia. Brind’Amour and Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell will give exit interviews at an unspecified later date.
As Carolina enters a rebuild, the organization’s likely top priorities are re-signing Jarvis and Guentzel, as both had breakout years and are a central part of the play style. Brind’Amour’s contract extension is another likely priority for Carolina’s management, but may not be the first signing made after the season’s disappointing ending. Staal told reporters during his exit interview, “Do I think we can bring a lot of those guys back? I think we can. There’s room there. I know this group wants more for the Hurricanes and wants to be here.”
