Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup With Core Locked Up Through 2033 as Tulsky Keeps Cap Room Above $11 Million
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 15
Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup With Core Locked Up Through 2033 as Tulsky Keeps Cap Room Above $11 Million
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 15
Summary
Carolina enters free agency with only one regular starter headed to unrestricted free agency — goalie Frederik Andersen, who was replaced in the Stanley Cup Final by Brandon Bussi.
Seven core players are already signed deep into the next decade, including Sebastian Aho through 2031 at $9.75 million AAV and Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake through 2033 on team-friendly deals.
No Hurricanes player is above a $10 million cap hit, leaving the new champions more than $11 million in space and likely more if Jesperi Kotkaniemi is waived.
Bussi already has a three-year extension worth $1.9 million AAV through 2029, while Carolina's prospect pool was ranked No. 11 by The Hockey Writers.
That mix of Cup validation, long-term cost control and pipeline depth gives Carolina an unusually stable post-title roster and a credible shot at becoming the NHL's next dynasty.
Is Carolina's 'no stars' model the new NHL championship blueprint or an unrepeatable high-risk gamble?
How did a waiver-wire goalie become the unlikely hero for a team built on precise data and analytics?
The Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 Stanley Cup Run: Management, Roster Moves, and the Road to a Dynasty
Overview
The Carolina Hurricanes captured the 2026 Stanley Cup after a thrilling playoff run, highlighted by a decisive Game 6 victory. Taylor Hall set the tone with an early goal, followed by Jackson Blake adding an insurance goal in the second period. Nikolaj Ehlers sealed the win with a late empty-netter, ensuring the Cup would head to Raleigh. Goaltender Brandon Bussi delivered a shutout, stopping all 22 shots and showcasing the team's defensive strength. This combination of timely scoring and outstanding goaltending secured the Hurricanes' place in history and sparked celebrations throughout the city.