The Hurricanes are coming off their second straight 110+ point season and reached the conference finals, following a first round victory the year before.
Such a surge often means losses to comply with the salary cap, but carefully managed Carolina was able to afford additions during the offseason.
Dmitry Orlov, one of the most coveted free agents, consolidates an already strong defense. Controversial offensive defenseman Tony DeAngelo returns to a team he had great success with two years ago for a modest $1.6 million, a $3.4 million pay cut from his contract precedent in Philadelphia.
The GM also managed to keep his two excellent goalkeepers, Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, for a total sum of less than 5 million. A feat.
The Hurricanes have perhaps the best top 6 in the league with Orlov, Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei and DeAngelo.
The arrival of Michael Bunting, 23 goals last year in Toronto, could push Teuvo Teravainen back into the third line and give him more offensive punch with Jordan Staal.
The Hurricanes are well-endowed at center with Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who is coming off his best season at age 22 with 43 points, including 18 goals. They are well served by wingers Andrei Svechnikov, recovered from injury, Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis.
This team must be considered one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Defenseman Brett Pesce had 30 points last year while playing over 22 minutes per game. Will the Hurricanes be able to keep him at the end of the season due to his possible unrestricted free agent status?
Defenseman Alexander Nikishin, a 2020 third-round pick, had a 55-point season in 65 games at 21 in St. Petersburg of the KHL. But the Hurricanes will have to wait another year or two…
Undermined by injuries, Teuvo Teravainen, 65 points the previous season, obtained only 37, including 12 goals, in 68 games last year.
52-21-9, 113 points
1st in the division
Association final (defeat against the Panthers)
Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, Max Pacioretty, Shayne Gostisbehere, Calvin de Haan
Dmitry Orlov, Michael Bunting, Tony DeAngelo, Caleb Jones
