The Carolina Hurricanes will have a busy off-season since several important players require contract extensions. One UFA in particular may be the focus of several teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Carolina Hurricanes will have a busy off-season since several important players require contract extensions. One UFA in particular may be the focus of several teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Don Waddell, general manager of the Hurricanes, is now concentrating on his team’s Stanley Cup run. But this summer, he has to make some significant choices about his roster.
Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, Teuvo Teravainen, Guentzel, and the other nine players are expected to become UFAs. Meanwhile, Jack Drury, Stephen Jarvis, and Martin Necas will be designated as RFAs.
With 13 players on the active roster under contract, the Hurricanes are expected to have $30.8 million in salary-cap space for 2024–25, according to PuckPedia. Even so, Waddell can’t afford to have everyone resign.
Waddell said at his press conference following the trade deadline that there had been no contract negotiations with the Guentzel camp. He would rather wait until the off-season to do that.
Guentzel’s re-signing will come at a price. Luke Fox of Sportsnet predicts that if the two-time 40-goal scorer tries the open market on July 1, he will be much sought after.
He proposed that an appropriate comparison could be the average annual worth of $8.7 million, which is the same as that of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrick Laine. His subsequent yearly cap hit, though, might reach $10 million.
With reference to Teravainen, Skjei, and Pesce, Fox also expressed a wait and see vibe. Pesce might arouse the greatest curiosity out of the three.
Since last summer, there have been a lot of trade rumors involving the 29-year-old right-shot defenceman. Fox thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the teams bidding to sign him if he prices himself out of Carolina.
The 22-year-old Jarvis is nearing the end of his entry-level deal, which allows Waddell the option to sign him to a reasonably priced, brief bridge contract.
But after finishing a two-year contract at $3 million a year, the 25-year-old Necas has the ability to pursue a lucrative long-term deal this summer. He also has arbitration rights.
Necas have periodically surfaced in the previous season’s rumors. If Waddell finds it tough to negotiate his contract, he could be traded.
