Sad news: It has been officially revealed that the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes will be terminating his contract.
(AP)—RALEIGH, N.C. Coach Rod Brind’Amour, the largest free agent available to the Carolina Hurricanes, has committed. Don Waddell, the president and general manager, may have more work ahead of him.
With two trips to the Eastern Conference final and at least one series victory each, the Hurricanes have made six consecutive trips to the postseason. However, following their second-round loss to the President’s Trophy-winning New York Rangers, the squad is still searching for a breakthrough toward their Stanley Cup victory, and they face impending free agency challenges.
As much as the squad would “like to keep it going,” Waddell acknowledges that adjustments will need to be made.
In a joint press conference with Brind’Amour on Monday, Waddell stated, “Players play for a long time to get to this point where they become unrestricted, where they can find out what the marketplace is going to pay them.” “We’re hoping we can curtail that a little bit with a few of the guys, but on July 1st, guys will undoubtedly be entering unrestricted free agency.”
Unrestricted free agents (UFAs) include Jake Guentzel, a trade deadline acquisition, and four of the top seven defensemen. UFAs can sign with any team in July.
Young players like Seth Jarvis and Martin Necas are also restricted free agents (RFAs), which means that if another team signs them to an offer sheet, Carolina will have the chance to match it. On the other hand, players like top-pairing defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who has one year left on his contract, could be eligible for an extension.
With a multiyear deal revealed on Sunday, the first priority was to take care of Brind’Amour and his staff.
A mainstay of the team, Brind’Amour led Carolina to the 2006 Cup and was named the league’s best coach in 2021 after stating that it was “hard for me to envision doing this anywhere else.” Furthermore, he rejected the notion that Carolina’s strategy would be more effective in the regular season—the team has placed second in the NHL with 420 points over the previous four seasons—than it would be in the Cup competition.
“We’re ringing the doorbell,” Brind’Amour declared. “Let me tell you something: I would much rather be knocking on doors than two houses down, which is exactly where we were for a very long time. I have faith in the methods we employ. The guys in there believe it, which is the finest part about it.
That means we’ll be more observant. Of course, we’re going to keep trying to improve. However, I don’t believe that many things need to be changed.
It was thought that Guentzel’s signing was the last-minute addition for this season. The 29-year-old will be among the top players available on the free-agency market despite only managing 12 goals and 34 points in 28 regular-season and postseason games.
“It’s a big part of it, because I have a family now,” Guentzel stated on Saturday in interviews at the end of the season. “It’s a choice that affects my family and me as well as myself. There are numerous variables involved. However, I’ve enjoyed everything about this place thus far.
The 22-year-old Jarvis, one of the RFAs, has established himself as a reliable player with 33 goals this year and 13 playoff goals in his first three seasons. Despite playing through a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder throughout the whole season and then breaking his finger during the playoffs, he also only missed one game.
Necas is another first-round selection in 2017 who, at the age of 25, has developed into an offensively skilled forward. Waddell dismissed a rumor out of Europe that stated Necas’ father would prefer to see his son traded, calling him “an exceptionally skilled player that has a lot more to give.”
The UFA forwards include Jordan Martinook, 31, the alternative captain; Stefan Noesen, 31, who scored filthy goals close to the crease; and Teuvo Teravainen, 29, who has been a dependable backup scoring option for the team for eight seasons.
On defense, Jalen Chatfield, the third linebacker, and the second pairing of Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei from Carolina are all undrafted free agents. Additionally, Tony DeAngelo filled in as the team’s seventh defenseman prior to replacing an injured Pesce in the opening round of the playoffs.
Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen, Carolina’s top two goalies, are both under contract.
The potential signing of top prospect Alexander Nikishin, a left-handed defenseman in the Kontinental Hockey League located in Russia, introduces another factor. With 28 goals, the 6-foot-3, 216-pound Nikishin has led the KHL blueliners in points for the past two seasons.
Waddell declared, “I’m not going to say it’s dead for this next year.” “We’re still having conversations with the individuals we should be. Knowing before we enter free agency is clearly the aim, as he may have a significant impact on our team.
“In one way or another, I believe we’ll sign him. We need to figure out whether he is committed to staying there for the upcoming year.
