Free agent focus: Carolina Hurricanes

Free agency is now a little more than a month away and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Jesse Puljujarvi – After being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers at the 2022-23 trade deadline, Puljujarvi did not take a serious step in getting his offensive production back on track in Carolina. In 58 games with Edmonton prior to the move, Puljujarvi scored five goals and nine assists. After the trade, Puljujarvi had just two assists in 17 games. Things did not improve in the playoffs, as Puljujarvi only played in seven of a possible 15 games. The Hurricanes will likely give serious consideration to non-tendering Puljujarvi, making him an unrestricted free agent.

D Dylan Coghlan – Coming over in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights last summer, Coghlan was primarily used as a depth defenseman for the Hurricanes this season. Only managing to suit up in 17 games, Coghlan had three assists while averaging almost 13 minutes of ice time a night. To his disadvantage, the Hurricanes’ defensive depth was simply too strong for Coghlan to find any more playing time.

Other RFAs: D Maxime Lajoie, F Dominik Bokk, F Stelio Mattheos, D Cavan Fitzgerald

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Max Pacioretty – In one of the most disappointing storylines from the Hurricanes this season, the offseason acquisition of Pacioretty did not pan out. Shortly after the team acquired him, Pacioretty suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an offseason workout, which cost him the first several months of the 2022-23 season.

Upon making his return on January 5 against the Nashville Predators, Pacioretty immediately became the player that Carolina was hoping he would be. Pacioretty scored three goals in five games, providing offense to a team that was severely lacking in that department in relation to their spot in the league standings.

Two weeks to the day that he made his return to the ice, Pacioretty once again suffered a torn Achilles in a game against the Minnesota Wild. Although it will be both incredibly physically and mentally difficult to make a return to the ice following this injury, the Hurricanes could look to retain Pacioretty at a much lower price point, given his injury history over the past couple of seasons. If he is to make another return to the NHL, Carolina would surely benefit from the offense that he has been able to provide to teams in the past.