The Carolina Hurricanes are going to find it very tough to be as good as they have been with all the losses they took in the offseason. Well, it seems like more key losses will be coming by the end of next offseason as the team is going to have to find money somewhere. That being said, we’ll take a look at three players who should be entering their final season with the Hurricanes.
Dmitry Orlov
Signing Dmitry Orlov to a two-year, $7.75 million AAV deal didn’t look great from the start considering he had half a great season and was over the age of 30. That put the Hurricanes in a bind this offseason and still haven’t signed Seth Jarvis. Orlov is a good defender, but he is older and is overpaid for the amount of work he actually does and compared to the other d-men that were and are on the team. Whether Orlov leaves in free agency by his choice or the Hurricanes look elsewhere, I believe that the two sides will part after next season.
Frederik Andersen
Frederik Andersen has had some solid seasons as the Hurricanes’ starter, but his health problems have hurt the team more than helped them. Fortunately, Carolina has a great young goalie in Pyotr Kochetkov on a very good deal and with the ability to already be the starter. Andersen is going into the last year of his deal and will be 35 years old by the time the season starts. Kochetkov started 40 games while there were four goalies in the mix last season. With fewer to challenge him for starts, I think he takes over this year in Carolina and Andersen isn’t as needed. There are a lot of goalies and the Hurricanes can find another more reliable one with health to back up Kochetkov in the future.
Jack Roslovic
The Hurricanes signed Jack Roslovic to a one-year deal this offseason to replace some of what the team lost in terms of talent. Roslovic has been very up and down in his career, having bright spots and then stretches where he disappears. We may see both sides of his game this coming season, but if he doesn’t impress enough, I don’t think there is a place for him to return.
