Now, the Stanley Cup has been awarded, officially the 2025 offseason, and the speed on July 1 is not fast enough. With the NHL salary cap rising to $95.5 million from July 1, many teams will seek to strengthen their roster this summer with high-end unlimited free agents (UFA) talent. The Carolina Hurricane will have $28.415 billion in cap space and have some high-priced contracts. They are expected to achieve an aggressive attitude in the offseason, especially with high-end talent. One player associated with the Hurricane is Mitch Marner. Although they have the necessary hat space to sign him, the Hurricane can still attract other players. That said, there are three players who can get three in free agents, hoping to join Rohlie’s Mana this summer.
Matt Duchene
The Hurricanes need a second-tier center, especially after Vincent Trocheck left the free agent market after the 2021-22 season. They can ask Marco Rossi from the Minnesota field, even if he is a restricted free agent (RFA). On the other hand, they can even reach out to the challenge about Ryan O’Reilly from the Nashville Predators. But if they feel they can buy a Veteran Center to slide into the 2C behind Sebastian Aho, why not look at Matt Duchene? The 34-year-old Haliburton, Ontario, spent a season with the Dallas star in 2024-25. Duchene scored 30 goals and 82 points in 82 games while flipping between 1C and 2C spots in the lineup. At the standoff point, his success rate was 52.4%. His second season in his second season wasn’t bad, with 25 goals and 65 points in 80 games in 2023-24, while also scoring a 56.5% standoff rate.
Related: Hurricane Offseason Wish List #1: Bring Mitch Marner to Rolley
Duchene has just reached a one-year, $3 million deal with stars, but the question is, what will his next contract look like? AFP Analytics expects he can sign a three-year, $21.5 million deal with Average Annual Value (AAV), about $7.17 million per season. That’s 7.51% of the $95.5 million next season. Can Duchene see a little bit more than $7 million per season at the age of 34? Maybe, but it’s likely to be around the $60-6.5 million range, which gave him a $3 million raise. Despite a season per game, it’s hard to see a team offering such a deal to someone like Ducheen at the age of 34. However, this is the NHL and anything can happen.
If the Hurricane can earn about $60 to $6.5 million in two seasons, it could benefit both sides in the short term. Regarding Duchene, he played for another contender, one at the Eastern Conference, lagged behind Aho’s second line all season. Besides, he doesn’t have to this The guy is in Carolina. He can focus on his own game. Regarding the Hurricanes, they have got players like Duchene, who has earned over 56 points in the past four seasons, two 30-plus goals. Additionally, it gives them time to discover the next 2C after the 2026-27 or 2027-28 season.
Yes, Jason Robertson is the biggest conversation point where he can leave the stars, what is his deal like? Can’t ask for a star and/or hurricane effect? If it doesn’t solve it, then the guy behind AHO will not hurt over the next two or three seasons. Even better if you can sign one and trade the other. Plus, they both know Logan Stankoven, which can also make transitions for one or two easier. Either way, if the Hurricane goes with the UFA Veterans Center, the Duchene is a reliable option for at least a few seasons.
Riley Smith
Another winger that the Hurricane can bring in with Mana is 34-year-old Reilly Smith. Ontario’s Mimiko native scored 13 goals and 40 points in 79 games between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Rangers, respectively. Reilly has proven successful after the Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup. Can he play in the top six of the Hurricanes? Maybe, but he can definitely be the top nine in the two-way match he brings in the game. Reilly scored 226 goals and 553 points in 919 professional games, while scoring 48 strong goals and 15 short-lived goals. He could be a guy who plugs in a second powerful unit and kills people when needed. For head coach Rod Brind’Amour, his versatility could go a long way, and he knew the need to win the Stanley Cup. Plus, he is William Carrier’s teammate, so letting these two men bring playoff luck to the Hurricanes.
Reilly just finished his three-year $15 million deal, reaching $5 million per season with AAV. AFP Analytics expects Reilly’s agreement to be around two years, with $8.759 million and AAV of $4.39 million. If the Hurricanes feel they can sign his two-year, $4.2 million contract for a quarterly contract, that could be a steal for players who can fit the system and place it in the Brind’Amour lineup. Reilly can play on both wings, something many hurricanes can already do. Adding Reilly provides another layer of versatile players for the Hurricanes who can play on the left or right wing and place it anywhere in the lineup to play.
Additionally, he gave Reilly two years, and he fits in with the Hurricanes that could get Duchene to the roster with those two in a reasonable trade until at least 2026-27. If Hurricanes put Marner as a 1RW seat and Reilly has a 2RW or even 3RW, it could be a steal from General Manager Eric Tulsky. You add a real winger who can play anywhere in the roster and on special teams, and it’s a cost-effective contract that won’t exceed $4.5 million in just two seasons. By adding Marner, Duchene and Reilly, the Hurricanes have already tackled their needs in the offseason solid.
Nate Schmidt
In addition to potentially following Marner, the Hurricanes may add a defensive player in the offseason. That defender Nate Schmidt. Schmidt just won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, so you’ll add another former Cup title to the roster. Additionally, the AAV is reasonable enough for him to get him along with Smith, Duchene and Marner. Schmidt just completed a one-year, $800,000 deal for the Panthers; adding him and others to the roster, his next contract is still justified. AFP Analytics expects he will sign a two-year, $599,000 deal, while AAV will reach $2.995 billion a quarter. If the Hurricane brings Schmidt into the two-year contract of a quarterly contract, it’s perfect for the budget and adds another solid defender to the blue line. Additionally, the Hurricane will add a 6-foot-tall defender who is physically able to perform a shutdown defense.
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Schmidt had 71 blocks and 82 hits in the 2024-25 season, an average of 16:32 per night. In addition, he gave a 4-level rating when playing the third minute. Adding Schmidt releases Sean Walker or Jalen Chatfield, pairing with Jaccob Slavin in top pairing with Alexander Nikishin. This way you can pair Schmidt with Shayne Gostisbehere. While his five goals and 19 points in 80 games didn’t get people’s attention, Schmidt added that the Hurricane gave another lockdown guy who could help in the transition game and could kill people.
Can a hurricane catch Vladislav Gavrikov? Yes, they can, but then need an extra move or two. If the Hurricanes are plus Schmidt, they can sign Mana, Ducheen and Smith to complete the solid four of the lineup without giving up on the future. Plus, the remaining caps ($1.869 billion) and they can always be built within the season if needed. There are many ways to go down in a hurricane, but with these three, it might be Marner, which could make offseason a success. However, only time will tell how the Hurricanes will attack the offseason.
Not too long until free agent
This summer, there are many options for hurricanes. There are 21 draft picks and $28.4 million in cap space in the next three drafts, and they are expected to take some positive moves to improve the roster. With the right additions, they can take an important step to becoming a Stanley Cup favorite. It may be the most fun summer yet for a team from Raleigh, North Carolina.
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