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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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 30: James Neal #18 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates out of the corner during the second period Game Two of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Washington Capitals at T-Mobile Arena on May 30, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 30: James Neal #18 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates out of the corner during the second period Game Two of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Washington Capitals at T-Mobile Arena on May 30, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. James Neal

You want to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals? You need James Neal.

Neal is coming off his tenth straight 20-goal season with the Vegas Golden Knights. He’s been one of the most consistent scorers in the last decade and is a leader off the ice. Signing Neal shows a commitment to making the playoffs. He’s unlikely to sign with a non-contender, unless the money is real good. And Carolina can make the money real good for him.

The Hurricanes wing depth is….poor, to say the least. They’re relying on 36-year-old Justin Williams and Jeff Skinner to score goals. Williams’ best days are behind him and Skinner, while being a consistent goalscorer, is inconsistent in every other facet of hockey.

Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen show plenty of promise. And they expect Andrei Svechnikov, who is all but confirmed to go number two overall to Carolina, to make the lineup. But putting a reliable 20-goal scorer beside these guys would take a lot of pressure off them.

Neal would immediately slot as their top line winger. With the future of Jordan Staal up in the air, for this articles sake, let’s say Elias Lindholm is their top line center. If they truly want to see what they have in Lindholm, flanking him with Neal would give them a pretty good idea. Look what he did for David Perron and Erik Haula this season. Look what he’s done throughout his career. If a forward can’t put up career numbers next to Neal, then it’s time to give up on him.

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