UFA Forwards
Jordan Staal - 34
End of a 10-year, $60 million ($6 million AAV) contract
The captain finally saw his mega contract expire and is now he's set to be a UFA for the first time in his career.
However, despite that, Staal is going to be sticking around for at least a little bit longer.
-“We’ve got a great group of guys, a great team and it’s just been a pleasure to be a leader here and just be a part of this group," Staal said in his exit interview. I’m planning on staying for sure.”
Staal is still the heartbeat of this Hurricanes squad, being a leader on and off the ice. He brings his all every night, never cheats the game and is one of the top two-way players in the entire game.
Carolina still needs him and he will still be here, at least for another few seasons.
Verdict - Will return
Jesper Fast - 31
End of a three-year, $6 million ($2 million AAV) contract
While nobody saw Fast being the Canes' best playoff scoring threat, he did prove to be exactly what you expected as a depth forward.
Fast is an excellent defensive winger and penalty killer and his postseason scoring just adds to his dependability.
If the Canes can keep him on a budget deal, it will be well worth it to run him out besides Staal for maybe a couple more seasons.
-“I had three great years, probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time," Fast said in his exit interview. "Me and my family love it here, I had both kids born in Raleigh as well so that always means something special. The priority is, if they want me here and we can figure it out, that would be the best thing for me.”
Verdict - Will return
Max Pacioretty - 34
End of a four-year, $28 million ($7 million AAV) contract
Carolina had big plans for sniper Max Pacioretty, but then he had perhaps one of the unluckiest seasons.
He was traded to Carolina in a cap dump, but then tore his Achilles in offseason training. He made his way back, played five games, but then re-ruptured it.
The biggest question surrounding him is will he even be able to play again? How many people make it back from an Achilles tear, let alone after a reinjury of the same one only months later.
-“As far as Pacioretty goes, obviously he’s been through a lot and we don’t know what the future is going to hold there… I don’t even know when he’ll be able to play," said Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell in his end-of-season availability. "We have to make sure that we don’t get caught counting on something that’s potentially not there."
Verdict - Will not return
Paul Stastny - 37
End of a one-year, $1.5 million contract
Stastny was the perfect addition for the Hurricanes this past season.
He was exactly what you want out of a fourth line center: tremendous in the faceoff circle, held his own well when needed to be moved up the lineup, cycled and grinded opponents down and scored quite a few clutch goals too.
He was brought in to be a solid and dependable veteran presence and he delivered just that. Add in four postseason goals including the series-clincher against the Islanders and he more than played up to his contract.
The only thing is, at 37, how much more hockey does he have left in him? Stastny himself wasn't even sure of the answer to that.
-“One of the things I have to think about is if I want to play next year or not," Stastny said in his exit interview. "I’ve always been good about taking a couple of weeks off, because right when you’re out of it, you want to play or you don’t want to play and things change as your body starts feeling better and you sit down with your family. It depends on what me and my family want to do. Right now, we’ll just enjoy the next couple of weeks before we figure out what we want to do.”
But even if he does end up returning, it's perhaps time Carolina starts developing some of their younger guys like Vasiliy Ponomarev or Jack Drury in that fourth line center spot.
Verdict - Will not return
Derek Stepan - 32
End of a one-year, $750,000 contract
Stepan stuck around with Carolina after his first season with the team despite not being offered a contract and came into training camp on a PTO. But the veteran managed to still win a spot and contract heading into the season.
Stepan's best days are behind him and his stats have reflected that more and more each year. It's most evident in his skating which has slowed tremendously from what he once was capable of.
It's perhaps time the Hurricanes move on.
-"I love it here and I’d love to play here again, but I know the position I’m in," Stepan said in his exit interview. "I know it’s going to be difficult to find a job, but I’m prepared to give it everything I’ve got again."
Verdict - Will not return
Makenzie MacEachern - 29
End of a one year, $750,000 (Minimum $275,000 guaranteed) contract
MacEachern didn't play a single regular season game with the Hurricanes, but came into the playoffs cold and helped elevate the Canes to a big road win on Long Island.
He provides good energy and physicality and could be a great option to be the Hurricanes 13th forward heading into next season, which Waddell talked about potentially needing to carry without an AHL affiliate.
-We might be in a position next year where we might have to carry 22 possibly 23 to have those guys here with us on a regular basis," Waddell said.
Verdict - Will return
Ondrej Kase - 27
End of a one-year, $1.5 million contract
It's time for Ondrej Kase to officially hang up the skates.
With yet another concussion sidelining him for the entire season, he's teetering on the edge of perhaps irreparable brain trauma.
For the good of himself and his family, he needs to be done.
Verdict - Will not return (Retires)
UFA Defensemen
Shayne Gostisbehere - 30
End of a six-year, $27 million ($4.5 million AAV contract)
The Hurricanes acquired Gostisbehere from the Arizona Coyotes at the trade deadline for a third-round pick and he immediately made an impact, fitting in seamlessly on the third pair alongside Jalen Chatfield.
He was solid quarterbacking the second power play unit and was actually a very solid defender. He was good with his stick and helped facilitate quick break outs and zone exits.
He had two crucial, bounce back seasons with Arizona to set himself up to be in a position where he will be a sought after free agent, and the run with Carolina will only have helped solidify his position.
As such, he will be a big money free agent this offseason, one the Canes won't be able to afford for a third pairing guy.
-"It’s the first time I’m a free agent and I feel like I deserve that in a sense that I can choose where I want to go and have some options, but this is definitely on the table in the sense that I enjoyed it here so much and this team is obviously very close to winning a championship," Gostisbehere said in his exit interview.
Verdict - Will not return
Calvin de Haan - 32
End of a one-year, $850,000 contract
After a brutal few season in Chicago, de Haan was on the outside looking in for a job, but Carolina offered him a PTO and he took the opportunity and ran with it, winning a contract and starting spot out of preseason.
De Haan had some really solid runs throughout the season and his play was above average overall, but he started to slip near the halfway point which then coincided with the trade deadline and the acquisition of Gostisbehere.
The rest is history.
Verdict - Will not return
Maxime Lajoie - 25
End of an arbitrated one-year, $750,000 (Minimum $200,000 guaranteed) contract
The Chicago Wolves captain had a huge season in the AHL, where he ranked 10th in defensemen scoring. He was a force on both sides of the puck and has always been a reliable depth piece when called up.
He should get a chance to be the sixth or seventh man on the blueline because I think he's earned that shot with the way he's played in the games he's gotten with the big club.
The only question will be if he can get a better chance somewhere else that has less of an established blueline.
Verdict - Will return
Jake Gardiner - 32
End of a four-year, $16.2 million ($4.05 million AAV) contract
Did you forget that Gardiner was still a part of this team?
That's okay, because it's now been over two full seasons since the defensemen last laced up his skates and hit the ice.
He had back and hip surgery in 2021, and was cleared to return to play in 2022, but he suffered a setback and never made it back.
Either this was the Canes' own salary cap manipulation tactics, or Gardiner is probably truly done.
Either way, you don't really come back after missing two whole years, so this is more than likely the end regardless of health status.
Verdict - Will not return (Retires)
UFA Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen - 33
End of a two-year, $9 million ($4.5 million AAV) contract
Before the postseason, I would probably have said that Andersen was on his way out the door and that more than likely Raanta would be the goaltender the Hurricanes kept, but after his display in the playoffs, the Danish netminder really proved he's still that dude.
I have already touched on the goaltender situation in depth, so if you want to read what I've already written, then check it out.
Carolina Hurricanes head into offseason with question marks in net
Five goaltenders the Hurricanes should target this offseason
Verdict - Will return
Antti Raanta - 34
End of a two-year, $4 million ($2 million AAV) contract
Raanta has been perhaps the more dependable goaltender of the two over the span of the entirety of last season, but Andersen's playoff performance is more notable as that's what you play for.
Father Finn is one of the best guys in hockey and if this is the end for him in Carolina, it was certainly a pleasure.
Verdict - Will not return
UFAs (Non-Roster)
Ryan Dzingel - 31
End of a one-year, $750,000 (Minimum $200,000 guaranteed) contract
Originally signed as a depth, bounce-back potential candidate, Dzingel told media at training camp that he was feeling healthy for the first time in a long time, and was eager to try and play his way back into the NHL.
However, that would not be the case as he suffered a lot of setbacks in the AHL with new injuries keeping him sidelined for most of the season.
The Hurricanes did him a favor by giving him a shot, but without an AHL affiliate next season, they really won't be in the business of signing veterans for potential rebounds.
Verdict - Will not return
Malte Stromwall - 28
End of a one-year, $750,000 (Minimum $175,000 guaranteed) contract
The Wolves leading scorer had a fairly good year. Watching him at training camp and throughout the preseason, Stromwall has a good shot and good offensive instincts and that showed in his production down in the AHL.
He would be a player to definitely keep around, but the Canes will have to loan him out to another team and so he might wish to sign with an organization that has a bit more security at the moment.
Verdict - Will (maybe?) return
Jack Dugan - 25
End of a one-year, $750,000 contract
Dugan was acquired from the New Jersey Devils/Utica Comets in exchange for Zackary Hayes who was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for future considerations i.e. nothing.
He did nothing with the Wolves, and so the Canes aren't going to be concerned over him.
Verdict - Will not return
William Lagesson - 27
End of a one-year, $750,000 (Minimum $275,000 guaranteed) contract
Lagesson was a good piece for the Wolves this season being a steady contributor from the blueline, but again, with Carolina not having an AHL team this upcoming season, I'm not sure how much they'll be focusing on having these good depth pieces.
If an affiliate was in place, I'd say he stays, but with the current situation, I don't see an avenue.
Verdict - Will not return
Cavan Fitzgerald - 26
End of a two-year, $750,000 (Minimum $90,000 guaranteed) contract
Fitzgerald was a big boost to the Wolves' defense when he was healthy, but he too missed a lot of time due to injury.
But in a similar boat as Lagesson, I'm not sure the Canes are going to focus on these depth pieces, especially when they already have a deep blueline.
Verdict - Will not return
Zach Sawchenko - 25
End of a one-year, $750,000 (Minimum $110,000 guaranteed) contract
Sawchenko came across in the Brent Burns deal to help give the Canes a bit more goaltending depth, but after a second straight weak season in the American league, I doubt the Hurricanes will be eager to re-sign him.
Verdict - Will not return