Hurricanes to buyout Darling
David Pagnotta: From understanding, the Carolina Hurricanes plan on buying out goaltender Scott Darling when the buyout period opens next month. Darling knows of the Hurricanes plan.
The Hurricanes have some potential holes they need to fix
The Fourth Period: The Hurricanes would like to bring pending unrestricted free agent winger Justin Williams and they could sign him to a one-year deal.
“I know how much he’s put into this and I know there’s only so much gas in the tank,” Brind’Amour recently told the Raleigh News & Observer. “I’m going to make sure he takes a couple of months before he makes a decision.”
The Hurricanes talked to pending UFA Micheal Ferland during the season but they obviously couldn’t agree on a deal. He likely won’t be back.
The Hurricanes talked to RFA Sebastian Aho during the season. They could use Washington Capitals Evgeny Kuznetsov‘s deal as a comparison according to the Raleigh News & Observer – eight years at a $7.8 million cap hit.
If they kept one of Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney it may be Mrazek since he’s eight years younger.
A top-six forward could be on their wish list, either through trade or free agency.
The Hurricanes could revisit talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs and they had some interest in Nazem Kadri.
Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News: The Hurricanes made the playoffs by only three points this past season, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they missed the playoffs next year.
They could lose pending free agents Micheal Ferland and Justin Williams.
Ferland will be looking for a big raise from the $1.7 million he made this past season. He’ll likely be gone. Williams could re-sign.
Hard to see Scott Darling being back with the Hurricanes. Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney are UFAs. Is Alex Nedeljkovic ready for a full-time NHL position next year? He’s not ready to be a starter just yet.
Pending free agents that could interest the Hurricanes are Semyon Varlamov, Robin Lehner and Cam Talbot.