Fansided

5 free agents the Hurricanes can sign to get back to the playoffs

By Jeremy Lambert

OTTAWA, ON - MARCH 24: Cam Ward
OTTAWA, ON - MARCH 24: Cam Ward /
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WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 3: Paul Stastny #25 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Nashville Predators in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 3, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Preds defeated the Jets 2-1 and tie the series 2-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 3: Paul Stastny #25 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Nashville Predators in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 3, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Preds defeated the Jets 2-1 and tie the series 2-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4. Paul Stastny

By trading Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm, the Hurricanes potentially opened up even more cap space. Both Hanifin and Lindholm were restricted free agents and both were going to cost Carolina a lot of money this offseason. Micheal Ferland, who was acquired in the deal, is on a nice $1.7 million deal. Lindholm was set to make far more than that.

However, by trading Lindholm, they lost their second line center with first line potential. There are some good centers on the market, but Carolina won’t be players for Joe Thornton or John Tavares.

They could be players for Paul Stastny. Money is no issue here. Carolina will have the funds to offer the veteran center anything he wants. The real issue is result. Stastny wants to go to a competitive team. The Hurricanes are often a preseason darling, but fail to produce substantial results on the ice. Maybe Stastny loves the moves they made at the draft, has confidence more good moves will be made, and sees himself as the missing piece.

The fit is certainly there. If he’s looking for first line minutes, he would get them in Carolina. As much as fans love Jordan Staal, he’s best served as a second line guy. Carolina has been searching for a legitimate number one center since Eric Staal. Stastny is probably a number two guy at this point in his career, but if he wants to prove he can still be the top option, Carolina makes a lot of sense.

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