All signs indicate that the Carolina Hurricanes will take a page from the Nashville Predators’ book from last offseason. A new report from The Fourth Period suggests that the Hurricanes will be aggressive this offseason and look to weaponize their nearly $30MM in cap space.
Understandably, General Manager Eric Tulsky didn’t address specific targets, but indicated he’ll revamp his team through free agency, saying, “People always like to say, ‘we’re not gonna make a move just for the sake of making a move,’ and of course, we’re not. That goes without saying. But if there’s any chance to get better, we’re gonna take it. We have the full buy-in to spend to the cap, if there are ways to do it to get better. We have so much space and such a strong team, there’s no guarantees we can find ways to spend all that money, but we’re going to spend all summer trying.”
Carolina has already tried to take a swing at this year’s top target, Mitch Marner. Marner did not approve the proposed trade at that time, but the Hurricanes are expected to revisit the idea this offseason and entice Marner with a competitive, yet smaller media market in Raleigh.
Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- According to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour would like Carolina to use some of their cap space to retain veteran defenseman Brent Burns. Burns has already indicated he’d like to remain with the organization, but it could be a difficult sell for Tulsky’s analytical mind. The 21-year veteran has plenty to offer via experience and leadership, but his on-ice play took a dramatic hit this season, finishing with 14 fewer points than the 2023-24 season, with a 2.6% decrease in his CorsiFor% and a 2.0% decrease in his on-ice save percentage.
- Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that New York Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse remains a candidate for the Pittsburgh Penguins head coaching vacancy. Muse has no head coaching experience at the NHL level, but has served as the Rangers assistant coach for two years, and served in the same role with the Nashville Predators from 2017 to 2020. There’s no update on whether Muse will remain with the Rangers should he not be offered the job with Pittsburgh.
BTW, who won the Corsi Cup this season? ;p
John Chayka GOAT
The two Stanley Cup finalists finished second and fourth *shrugs*
The problem as I see it is… the Hurricanes were aggressive with Guentzel and Rantanen… and those both blew up. Blame it on Brind’Amour’s system or the way the front office does business or the 4% income tax or whatever you want. Top players don’t want to sign with Carolina. The Canes will be in the playoffs for years to come… but this front office is never winning a Cup.
Do you have any evidence that this front office won’t win a Cup or are you guessing?
As evidence I present both their playoff performances and their management history. The playoffs speak for themselves. On the management side I present Aho signing an offer sheet and his comments this week, the KK offer sheet, the Rantanen debacle… and I sum those up with the Guentzel quote, “they’re exhausting to deal with”. Canes fans have spent so much time fawning over all their screw-ups they actually believe they’re geniuses… they’re not. They live and die on Brind’Amour’s system… one that has shown it cannot succeed with what they give him. They will not get a “difference maker” this offseason and they will not win a Cup… I can’t give you evidence, so you just go on believing. Maybe next year.
The team has won double digit playoff series under the coach, that does speak for itself id say. Rantanen turned into Stankoven, from Necas — who was leaving Raleigh after this upcoming year had he stayed. Stankoven is obviously cost controlled for now, and the organization got draft capital back also in what was a retooling year.
Guentzel was a whole other situation, where ownership came to the table too late, with I’d argue were agreeable terms, but it was way too late. Waddell leaving and Tulsky taking over as GM made for bad timing with that player. That mistake is on ownership.
The franchise didn’t bring Rod in to go on a finals run or two. They had that in 02, 06, 09. The franchise needed sustained success they could sell to the fans. This franchise going back to Hartford has never seen sustained success like they are seeing the last seven seasons. They had the best home record in home this regular season. It takes the right team, not just the best players.
Thanks for having a clue!
Spot on regarding Guentzel, in particular. Tom Dundon’s heavy hand was in full evidence in that failure and it stung him. He expressed in an interview this season that he has learned a fair deal rather than “winning” every negotiation down to the nickels and dimes is more productive.
Notice that they put the money on the table immediately for Rantanen, but Mikko took a haircut to pick which team he played on that lost the Conference Finals in 5 games.
That all sounds right to me Corndogs… but what you’re describing is nothing different than what I’ve said. They are all about sustained success… but that’s going to stand in the way of them winning a Cup. As you described, they turned Rantanen into Stankoven rather than risk losing him for nothing. They even added a first round pick. In a year when they had as clear a path to the final as they’re ever going to get, they stuck with the long game.
I get it, and you nailed it, the franchise needs sustained success. They’re in a big barn they always sell out and they bring in playoff cash every year… and they still receive revenue sharing payments because they’re in the bottom ten in the league in revenue. Missing the playoffs – especially now with the cap exploding – would lead to huge loses for Dundon and a real worry in Carolina. And so it goes, even if Dundon has “changed his ways” as Mike J says, do you really think Marner or even Sam Bennet is signing in Carolina? What part of the future is Tulsky going to send the other way in a big trade? I’m curious to see what they manage this offseason, but I don’t have a lot of faith that the next playoff team will be any different than the last seven.
Your all missing the point , the number one priority is between the pipes , get rid of KK and get a real number one center