The Carolina Hurricanes have a busy offseason in front of them with not only having to find a new general manager following the resignation of Don Waddell, but also a litany of expiring contracts to deal with as well.
In terms of UFAs, the Canes are looking at 10 different players whose contracts are up, four of which are core pieces of the team and seven of which played significant minutes/roles this year.
The team holds exclusive negotiating rights for all of those players until the opening of free agency on July 1 and so they can try to strike a deal before that date.
So who will stay and who will be hitting the market?
*The UFAs are listed in alphabetical order
Callahan Burke
27, F
RS: 0 goals, 0 points
PO: N/A
Previous Contract: One year, $775,000
Perhaps one of the most forgettable team debuts this season, Burke played just a single game for the Hurricanes in what was a 6-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in October.
Verdict: Gone
Jalen Chatfield
28, RD
RS: 8 goals, 22 points
PO: 0 goals, 2 points
Previous Contract: Two years, $762,500 AAV
Chatfield has taken leaps and bounds in his development every year in Carolina.
From his first year with the organization, winning a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves to two very strong NHL seasons, Chatfield has the foot speed and defensive acumen to keep up with today's game.
He formed a strong pair with Dmitry Orlov this season but has also shown he can play up in the lineup too. With two other key defensive pieces potentially leaving, Chatfield could be a piece that gives the team some stability on the backend at a lower price tag.
Verdict: Re-signed
Tony DeAngelo
28, RD
RS: 3 goals, 11 points
PO: 0 goals, 2 assists
Previous Contract: One year, $1.675 million AAV
The Canes had high hopes that DeAngelo could replicate his 2021-22 success this year, but it just didn't quite click.
DeAngelo struggled at the start of the season and after a bit, saw himself drop tot he seventh defenseman as the team started to really gel.
However, DeAngelo showed a much stronger all-around defensive game at the tail end of the season as well as in the playoffs and his vision and ability to walk the blueline are still there.
Playing time is paramount to what DeAngelo is looking for, so while I think Carolina wouldn't mind keeping him, I do think someone will pick him up.
Verdict: Gone
Jake Guentzel
29, LW
RS: 30 goals, 77 points
PO: 4 goals, 9 points
Previous Contract: Five-years, $6 million AAV
Potentially the biggest unrestricted free-agent decision Carolina faces is with Guentzel.
He was fantastic alongside Sebastian Aho since being acquired at the trade deadline and his game perfectly suits the Hurricanes.
But will Carolina offer him the big deal he'll be looking for as he enters his 30s?
Guentzel is the kind of player that I think you have to break the mold for. He's an elite player who can help to elevate the roster, especially one that may be losing a few other key offensive pieces.
The Hurricanes also have to be aggressive with him now because there will be dozens of teams offering him huge deals once July 1 rolls around.
Did the Canes and Raleigh make enough of an impression on Guentzel in his short time here or will he chase the money?
Verdict: True Toss Up
Jordan Martinook
31, LW/RW
RS: 14 goals, 32 points
PO: 2 goals, 4 points
Previous Contract: Three years, $1.8 million AAV
Martinook is a quintessential Hurricane.
Beloved by fans and teammates alike, Martinook embodies the hard work, grindy mindset that Rod Brind'Amour wants to instill in his team.
Not only does he set that example on the ice, but Martinook is also a great leader off the ice as well.
He brings such positive energy in the locker room and on the bench and he's also the team organizer, being the one to set up a lot of the team outings and dinners.
Oh yeah, and he can still chip in more than a handful of goals and points too, having had some big ones in the playoffs.
I can't see him walking for slightly more money somewhere else.
Verdict: Re-signed
Stefan Noesen
30, LW/RW
RS: 14 goals, 37 points
PO: 4 goals, 4 points
Previous Contract: Two years, $762,500 AAV
Noesen has bounced around the NHL and AHL for his whole career and after three years with the Hurricanes organization, he's finally in line for his first big payday contract.
He's earned it, but I don't think Carolina will be willing to be the one to pay it.
On top of the wear and tear of his style of play, Noesen averaged less than 12 minutes of ice time a game and was down to PP2 with the Hurricanes this season. He's a great piece at a value, but I don't think the Hurricanes would be as keen to keep him for much more.
Verdict: Gone
Brett Pesce
29, RD
RS: 3 goals, 13 points
PO: 0 goals, 1 points
Previous Contract: Six years, $4.025 million AAV
Pesce is a guy that I can see taking a pay cut to remain in Carolina.
He's been with the Canes for the entirety of nine year career and he mentioned in his exit interviews that he knows what it's like to be on a losing team.
Pesce wants to be a Hurricane, but there will also be a lot of teams willing to offer him more than I'm sure Carolina will.
There's also the matter of if the Canes even want to sign him long-term being that he's had a handful of serious injuries, multiple on his shoulders.
There's a big risk associated with him even beyond heading into his 30s.
But he's still such a good player now that it raises the question of if the Hurricanes are willing to risk it to maximize their current window.
Verdict: Toss Up, lean to gone
Antti Raanta
35, G
RS: 12-7-2; 0.872 Sv%; 2.99 GAA; 1 shutout
PO: N/A
Previous Contract: One year, $1.5 million
It's been such a pleasure to have Raanta in the organization for three years now. Truly one of the best guys in hockey and for a long while, a really good goalie.
The way this season ended, on top of being just very tough for him personally, also would tell me that the Canes wouldn't want him back especially since they already have three netminders under contract.
Will he be able to continue his NHL career somewhere or is that the end for Father Finn?
Verdict: Gone
Brady Skjei
30, LD
RS: 13 goals, 47 points
PO: 1 goal, 9 points
Previous Contract: Six years, $5.25 million AAV
How do you replace the offensive production of Skjei?
Skjei was Carolina's top scoring defenseman this year and has proven to be a true top-four defender for a few seasons now.
His smooth, skating ability fits in so well with the way Carolina plays and he's really grown into the perfect complementary piece on the blueline. Not to mention he's getting some solid reps as a power play quarterback too.
His price has gone way up, but I don't know if the Canes can afford to lose him.
However, the rest of the league has more than likely taken notice of Skjei too and somebody is going to offer him a lot of money, so it's a tough one to say.
Verdict: Toss Up, lean to re-sign
Teuvo Teravainen
29, LW/RW
RS: 25 goals, 53 points
PO: 2 goals, 6 points
Previous Contract: Five years, $5.4 million AAV
While I don't think Teravainen will be getting a lot more than what he had been previously making, the fact of the matter is he's currently way down the totem pole in terms of allocating resources.
The Canes have a lot of important contracts to figure out with their RFAs as well as what to do with Guentzel and half the defense.
Teravainen is just an all-around good player. He's a special teams specialist, good on both the power play and penalty kill, and he's just so intelligent in the way he plays the game.
He's able to make plays with his vision and he's such an underrated defensive player as well.
Someone will gladly offer him a nice contract, I just am not sure Carolina will be able to match it.
It all depends on what Teravainen wants to do.
Verdict: Gone
Who do you think will stay with the Hurricanes and who do you think will be headed to new teams? Join the conversation on the forums!