NHL Rumors: 5 forwards most likely to sign early extensions this summer

Forwards most likely to sign early extensions: 1. Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes)

The Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly in talks with alternate captain Sebastian Aho about his next contract. The soon-to-be 26-year-old’s five-year contract is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season. He’s very likely to see an extension come to fruition soon as the Canes want to ensure Aho doesn’t hit unrestricted free agency next year.

Aho is an elite two-way center who had 67 points last season. He consistently contributes to the power play and the penalty kill. It’s clear that Aho has earned the extension that’s in the works. Although Aho is seen as a franchise player, the Canes would be in danger of losing him via free agency if he were to hit the open market next year.

If Aho becomes a UFA, he will be highly sought after, and that became evident when he received an offer sheet from the Montreal Canadiens in 2019. The Canes ultimately matched the offer sheet. Since offer sheets aren’t very common, this is a big deal. The Canes would like to see this playmaker continue to shine in Carolina, so they’ll want to avoid a scenario where Aho has teams lining up to entice him.

Elliotte Friedman recently expressed that he believes the Canes and Aho will get a deal done, although he’s not sure of the timeline. Aho is expected to see a long-term contract. The Canes have plenty of other possible moves going on, which is likely why an Aho deal hasn’t been checked off the list yet. Other deals may get squared away first, but Aho is likely to sign before next season kicks off.

Keep an eye out for these five players to sign extensions before the next NHL season begins.