Hurricanes retool by adding Orlov, Bunting in free agency

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Carolina Hurricanes:

2022-23 season:52-21-9, first in Metropolitan Division; lost in Eastern Conference Final

Key arrivals

Dmitry Orlov, D:Orlov, who will turn 32 on July 23, signed a two-year contract on July 1. He had NHL career highs in assists (29) and points (36) in 66 games last season, including 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 23 games with the Boston Bruins after he was acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on Feb. 23. He also had eight assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. A left-hand shot, Orlov will likely play on the left side on Carolina's second or third defense pair, but he is also capable of playing on the right side. … Michael Bunting, F:The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract on July 1 after playing the past two seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs. A finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2021-22, Bunting had 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 82 regular-season games and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven playoff games last season.

Key departures

Max Pacioretty, F:Pacioretty signed a one-year contract with the Capitals on July 1 after being limited to five games last season because of a torn Achilles. The injury came after he had missed the first 38 games while recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles. … Shayne Gostisbehere, D: Gostisbehere signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1 after he had 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 75 games last season, including 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 23 games after he was acquired by Carolina in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on March 1. He also had three assists in 15 playoff games. … Calvin de Haan, D: He signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 2 after getting 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 53 regular-season games last season. He was a healthy scratch in the playoffs. … Paul Stastny, F: Stastny remains an unrestricted free agent after he had 22 points (nine goals 13 assists) in 73 regular-season games, and four goals in 15 playoff games as Carolina's fourth-line center last season. …. Derek Stepan, F: Stepan remains an unrestricted free agent after he had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 73 regular-season games, and one assist in 11 playoff games last season. … Jesse Puljujarvi, F:Puljujarvi became an unrestricted free after the Hurricanes didn't make him a qualifying offer. The No. 4 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Puljujarvi had 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 75 games last season, including two assists in 17 games after the Hurricanes acquired him in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28. He also had one assist in seven playoff games.

On the cusp

Pyotr Kochetkov, G:The 24-year-old will once again begin the season third on Carolina's depth chart after Frederik Andersen (two years) and Antti Raanta (one year) were re-signed on July 1. Kochetkov was 12-7-5 with a 2.44 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and four shutouts in 24 games (23 starts) with the Hurricanes last season, and 17-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA, .903 save percentage and two shutouts in 26 games with Chicago of the American Hockey League. … Vasily Ponomarev, F:The 21-year-old led Chicago with 24 goals and was second with 46 points in 64 AHL games last season. There isn't currently room for him in Carolina's top nine, but an injury or trade could open the door for Ponomarev to make his NHL debut.

What they still need

Carolina wants to add a goal-scoring forward to help it get over the hump come playoff time. It acquired Pacioretty in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for that reason last summer, but that plan was derailed by his Achilles injuries. Missing Pacioretty, along with forward Andrei Svechnikov, who tore the ACL in his right knee on March 11, took a toll on the Hurricanes, whose lack of scoring depth caught up to them in the Eastern Conference Final, when they scored six goals in four games against the Florida Panthers.

They said it

"Things have changed here. We used to chase players, have to overpay players. We've become a destination place and we're getting those calls first, as some teams are, and it's nice to be in that position to have an opportunity to make your team better. I've always said my job as the general manager is to make our team better if we can, and we felt the additions (in free agency) certainly put us in a different spot moving forward." -- general manager Don Waddell

Fantasy focus

With the Hurricanes re-signing Andersen and Raanta, Kochetkov's hope of being the No. 1 goalie to open the season has been put on hold. That said, Andersen and Raanta each dealt with injuries last season, allowing Kochetkov to step in and post 12 wins and four shutouts (tied for fifth in NHL) in 24 games, so the 24-year-old still has an enormous fantasy ceiling in keeper and dynasty leagues and should be considered a breakout candidate this season. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Michael Bunting -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis

Andrei Svechnikov -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas

Teuvo Teravainen -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast

Jordan Martinook -- Jack Drury -- Stefan Noesen

Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns

Dmitry Orlov -- Brett Pesce

Brady Skjei -- Jalen Chatfield

Frederik Andersen

Antti Raanta