Hurricanes Are Not Re-signing These Team Favorites

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Joshua Deeds
May 18, 2024 (4:36 PM)

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The Hurricanes were recently bounced by the New York Rangers in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Not only is the future of Rod Brind'Amour in question, but quite a few team favorites who are UFA's are unlikely to return.

One of them will be defenseman Brett Pesce whose season was ended way too early, in the 1st season against the New York Islanders. His season-ending injury, was lower body. However, the top-four options time in Carolina may be at an end.

Brett Pesce

According to NHL Insider Elliote Friedman This May have been the last year Pesce will "cause chaos":

«Pesce didn't seem likely. They kinda told him what they were willing to do last year,» Friedman said. «I think it was in the (five years, $5MM AAV) range. It didn't work. I don't know that it's changed.»

The team was reportedly not in contract extension talks with any of it's UFA's aside from franchise center, Sebastian Aho.

Pesce was expected to be a part of the trade last off-season and was allowed to speak to other teams during the post-season in regards to a contract extension. But Don Waddell, would eventually remove him from the trade block according to Elliote Friedman.

This has been an terrible campaign for Pesce, whose has a .19 points per game, and 20:17 TOI the lowest since his 2015-2016 campaign.

As a two-way defender, he should be able to find a good contract, far better that he'd find in Carolina during free-agency. According to Evolving Hockey he is projected to land a $5.5 Million AAV deal, with possibly 6-year term wherever he signs.

Martin Necas

Another UFA is Martin Necas who just completed his 2-year, $6.6 Million overall compensation deal with the team.

With Jake Guentzel and Seth Jarvis taking signing priority for the team over Necas, it looks like his time in Carolina has ended.

With Necas being arbitration eligible, the team may have to use a work-around, by completing a sign-and-trade or letting him discuss arbitration terms with other teams around the league.

The 2017-12th overall pick, took a regression in production, only scoring 24 goals and 53 points, after an 82-point season in 2022-2023.

The Czech winger has been a playoff performer, but unfortunately not as consistent as they need him to be.

With Necas being on the Canes reserve list last season, any team who'd sign Necas would have to sign him long-term, likely a 7-year term carrying a $7.5 Million AAV projection according to Evolving Hockey.
Source: Pro Hockey Rumors
Hurricanes Not Expected To Re-Sign Brett Pesce, Martin Necas