The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t sign anyone new and important until July 12th when they added Ryan Dzingel. Instead, they focused on resigning their own free agents from this past season. But, they made a lot of noise on July 1st as they had to deal with the first offer sheet since 2013 when the Montreal Canadiens tendered one to star forward Sebastian Aho. Besides that, they resigned a couple of key players and added some minor leaguers, but were otherwise quiet. Here is a recap of their free agency.
- Petr Mrazek, G. Mrazek resigned with the ‘Canes on a two year, $6,250,000 deal that carries an annual average value of $3.125 million. In 40 games last year, Mrazek posted a 2.39 GAA and a .914 SV%. He then played in 11 playoff games for the team, in which he put up a 2.73 GAA and a .894 SV%. Over his NHL career, Mrazek has played in 223 games, in which he has posted a 2.61 GAA and a .911 SV%. He was drafted 141st overall in 2010 by the Detroit Red Wings, and this will be the 27-year-old goaltender’s second season with Carolina after signing there as a UFA last summer. It will be his eighth NHL season overall, over which he has played for three teams.
- Sebastian Aho, F. As mentioned above, Aho was tendered an offer sheet by the Montreal Canadiens on July 1st. They offered him a five year deal worth $42.27 million that carried an annual average value of $8.454 million. Last season, Aho played in all 82 games, over which he produced 83 points. He then appeared in 15 playoff games, in which he produced 12 points. Over his NHL career, he has played in 242 games and tallied 197 points. Aho was drafted 35th overall of the 2015 draft by Carolina, and the Hurricanes are the only team the 21-year-old center has known over his NHL career. He was quoted saying that he wants to keep it that way despite having signed the Canadiens’ offer sheet. But, Carolina matched it, so that is now irrelevant as Aho will remain a ‘Cane for at least the next five years.
- Brian Gibbons, F. Gibbons signed a one year, $750,000 deal with the Hurricanes. He started last season with the Anaheim Ducks and was traded to the Ottawa Senators on February 25, 2019. He appeared in 64 games between the two teams, in which he tallied 19 points. Over his NHL career, he has played in 189 games and produced 67 points. He signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2011-2012 season, and the 31-year-old (who primarily plays center but can also play on either wing) is on his sixth NHL franchise.
- Alex Lintuniemi, D. Lintuniemi signed a one year, $700,000 contract with Carolina. He spent last season with the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL team, the Ontario Reign, playing in 67 games, in which he netted two goals and added 23 assists. Over his AHL career, he has played in 176 games in which he has recorded 60 points. He was drafted 60th overall by the Kings in 2014, and the 23-year-old defenseman is leaving the only organization he has known over his five-season professional career.
- Ryan Dzingel, F. Dzingel signed a two year contract worth $6.25 million which carries an AAV of $3.125 million. Last season, he was traded to Columbus from Ottawa at the deadline, and he played in 78 games, in which he tallied 56 points, between the two teams. He also appeared in nine playoff games with the Blue Jackets, through which he recorded one goal and zero assists. Over his NHL career, Dzingel has appeared in 268 games and produced 138 points. The 27-year-old winger was drafted 204th overall in 2011 by the Ottawa Senators, and this will be Dzingel’s third organization in what will be his seventh NHL season.
- Clark Bishop, F. Bishop was resigned to a one year contract worth $700,000. Last season was his first NHL season as he appeared in 20 games with the Hurricanes, in which he produced three points. He also appeared in 38 games for the Charlotte Checkers, through which he recorded just 6 points. He then saw playoff time for the Hurricanes, as he played in two games but put up zero points. He also played in 16 playoff games for the Checkers, in which he scored two goals and added an assist. Over his AHL career, Bishop has played in 148 games and tallied 40 points. The 23-year-old center was drafted 127th overall in 2011 by the Hurricanes, and they are the only organization he has known over his five season professional career.
- Gustav Forsling, D. Forsling signed a one year contract worth $874,125. Last season, he appeared in 43 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, in which he recorded nine points. He also played in five games for the Rockford IceHogs, during which he tallied two assists. Over his NHL career, Forsling has appeared in 122 games and scored 27 points. The 23-year-old defenseman was drafted 126th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, and this will be his second organization in what will be his fourth season.
- Haydn Fleury, D. Fleury was resigned to a one year contract worth $850,000. Last season, he played in 20 games with the Hurricanes, in which he produced one point. He also appeared in 28 games with the Checkers, over which he tallied 10 points. He then played for both teams in the playoffs, as he played in nine games for the Hurricanes, but failed to put up a single point. He also played in 11 games for the Checkers, in which he recorded six points. Over his AHL career, Fleury has played in 101 games and put up 39 points. Over his NHL career, he has appeared in 87 games and produced nine points. The 23-year-old defenseman was taken seventh overall in 2014 by the Hurricanes, and it is the only organization he has known over his five season professional career.
- Brock McGinn, F. McGinn was resigned to a two year contract worth $4.2 million that carries a $2.1 million AAV. Last season for the Hurricanes, he played in all 82 games and recorded 26 points. He then appeared in 15 playoff games for the team, through which he tallied six points. Over his NHL career, McGinn has played in 240 games, over which he has produced 76 points. The 25-year-old winger was drafted 47th overall in 2012 by the Hurricanes, and they are the only organization that he has known over his six season professional career.
- Max McCormick, F. McCormick was signed to a one year contract that’s worth $700,000. He started last season playing for the Ottawa Senators before being sent down to their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators. He played in 14 games for Ottawa, in which he produced one point. He was then traded to Colorado Avalanche organization for J.C Beaudin on February 6th, 2019. Over his time with Belleville and the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, he appeared in 45 games, through which he tallied 20 points. Over his NHL career, he has played in 71 games, over which he has recorded ten points. Over his AHL career, he has laced them up 279 times and produced 133 points. The 27-year-old winger was drafted 171st overall in 2011 by the Ottawa Senators and he is joining his third organization in what will be his sixth professional season.
This post will be updated with any new signing the Hurricanes make in the future.
Hockey Addict 