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<\/a>D Alexander Nikishin<\/a> \u2013 Nikishin may not have lit up the NHL like he did the KHL in recent years but he still had a very strong rookie season.\u00a0 He finished second in rookie scoring for a defenseman after potting 11 goals and 22 assists in 81 games while averaging over 18 minutes per night of playing time.\u00a0 That performance earned him a seventh-place spot in Calder Trophy voting.\u00a0 On a deep back end, the Hurricanes were able to ease him in a bit which could impact contract talks.\u00a0 If Nikishin\u2019s camp feels he has another level to get to over the next couple of years, they may prefer to work on a bridge contract and position the blueliner to cash in later.\u00a0 That deal could fall in the $4MM range.\u00a0 If both sides are content to do a longer-term pact that buys out some UFA eligibility, the market value could be closer to $7MM.<\/p>\nG Cayden Primeau<\/a> \u2013 The word \u2018key\u2019 probably doesn\u2019t apply here but Primeau has seen NHL action now in seven straight years, although he spent most of this season with AHL Chicago.\u00a0 He\u2019s no longer viewed as a potential full-time NHL backup but the market for third-stringers with NHL experience who can come up and play a few games in a pinch has gone up lately.\u00a0 He should at least be able to land another one-way pact but it may have to come from elsewhere.\u00a0 Because Primeau has played in 58 NHL games but is more of an AHL player at this point, he\u2019s a strong non-tender candidate to avoid giving him the chance to test salary arbitration.<\/p>\n F Justin Robidas<\/a> \u2013 Another one who doesn\u2019t really fit the \u2018key\u2019 descriptor (Carolina\u2019s RFA list is pretty thin), Robidas is one of Carolina\u2019s more intriguing youngsters.\u00a0 He hasn\u2019t seen much NHL action so far (just four games) but he has been quite productive with AHL Chicago over the past two seasons, tallying 115 points in 128 games.\u00a0 The 23-year-old will no longer be waiver-exempt in 2026-27 and his minor-league production could make him a candidate to be claimed. \u00a0It will be interesting to see if he\u2019s able to land a one-way deal as a result.<\/p>\n Other RFAs: F Skyler Brind\u2019Amour<\/a>, D Domenick Fensore<\/a>, F Noel Gunler<\/a>, D Aleksi Heimosalmi<\/a>, D Kyle Masters<\/a>, F Viktor Neuchev<\/a>, G Nikita Quapp<\/a>, D Ronan Seeley<\/a><\/p>\n Key Unrestricted Free Agents<\/p>\n F Nicolas Deslauriers<\/a> \u2013 Deslauriers is no longer the every-game tough guy he was in the first half of his contract a few years ago.\u00a0 Now, the 35-year-old profiles as more of a 13th forward who can step in against more physical teams.\u00a0 The market for more enforcer-type players isn\u2019t what it used to be so while he should be able to land more than $850K minimum salary, it\u2019s doubtful that he\u2019ll be able to land the $1.75MM he has made in each of the last four years.\u00a0 Something closer to the middle is more realistic.<\/p>\n F Noah Philp<\/a> \u2013 Philp passed through waivers and finished up the year with the Wolves but he won over 56% of his faceoffs between Edmonton and Carolina when he was in the NHL this season.\u00a0 The 27-year-old profiles as a minimum-salaried player this summer but he might be able to secure a one-way deal and could make a push to stick at the back of a roster in training camp.<\/p>\n D Mike Reilly<\/a> \u2013 After missing most of 2024-25 after undergoing heart surgery, Reilly stayed healthy this season which was good to see.\u00a0 However, he had a fairly limited role overall, getting into just over half of Carolina\u2019s games while logging just under 15 minutes per night of ice time and in the playoffs, he has suited up just twice so far.\u00a0 Profiling as more of a seventh option moving forward, Reilly is likely going to land another deal around his current $1.1MM price tag and it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see his streak of one-year contracts continue for a fourth consecutive season.<\/p>\n Other UFAs: G Amir Miftakhov<\/a>, F Josiah Slavin<\/a>, F Givani Smith<\/a>, F Ryan Suzuki<\/a>, D Juuso Valimaki<\/a><\/p>\n Projected Cap Space<\/p>\n There aren\u2019t many teams with less cap space than the Hurricanes, who will enter the summer with a little under $12MM in room.\u00a0 They have room to re-sign Nikishin and Andersen (if they want to carry three goalies full-time next season) and enough space to replace Reilly as a depth defender.\u00a0 They might not be able to do too much beyond that, but they also don\u2019t have a lot of holes to fill, as evidenced by a roster that\u2019s a win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/USATSI_21777759-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a>G Frederik Andersen<\/a> \u2013 There may not be a player in the playoffs who has flipped the script as much as Andersen has.\u00a0 After a below-average regular season, he has been stellar in the postseason to the point of being a viable Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of his team in the playoffs.\u00a0 In doing so, he has certainly bolstered his marketability.\u00a0 He\u2019ll be 37 in early October but it\u2019s not unfathomable that Andersen could land a two-year contract around the $3.25MM he made this season (including performance bonuses).\u00a0 Alternatively, another one-year pact that makes him eligible for performance incentives is the other option.\u00a0 He should be able to at least match his current deal if he goes that route.<\/p>\n