"We certainly hope they are both back, but it takes two sides," general manager Don Waddell said Thursday. "But I will have more dialogue with their agents in the next little bit and see where they're at. Those guys play key positions for us up front and key roles. It's in our best interest to see if we can bring them both back."
Each forward played a key role in the Hurricanes going 54-20-8 and winning the Metropolitan Division.
Trocheck had 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 81 regular-season games and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games. The 28-year-old center signed a six-year, $28.5 million contract ($4.75 million average annual value) with the Florida Panthers in 2016. He was traded to Carolina on Feb. 24, 2020.
"We want to get 'Tro' back, there's no doubt about it," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "He's a great player and great for us, so that's the priority."
Niederreiter had 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 75 regular-season games and four goals and one assist in 14 playoff games. The 29-year-old signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract ($5.25 AAV) with the Minnesota Wild in 2017. He was traded to Carolina on Jan. 17, 2019.
Waddell and Brind'Amour were meeting the media three days after the Hurricanes were eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.
In addition to Trocheck and Niederreiter, the Hurricanes face decisions on other high-profile free agents, including restricted free agent defenseman Tony DeAngelo, who this season had 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists) in 64 regular-season games with an NHL career-high 20 power-play points. The 26-year-old played on a one-year, $1 million contract after the final season of his Rangers contract was bought out July 25.
Brind'Amour made it clear he wants him back next season.
"The offensive abilities were there, but actually his defense was great as well," Brind'Amour said. "The most important thing for me is what he means to the group in the locker room. They all appreciate who he is and how he is and what he does. He was great for us."
Trocheck, Niederreiter and DeAngelo all said Wednesday they would like to return.
The futures of unrestricted free agent forwards Derek Stepan and Max Domi and defensemen Ian Cole and Brendan Smith are unclear.
So is the long-term future of center Jordan Staal, who has one season remaining on a 10-year, $60 million contract ($6 million AAV) he signed July 1, 2012. He said Wednesday he will not seek an extension before the end of next season.
"We want Jordan to play as long as Jordan wants to play," Waddell said. "When Jordan is not able to compete and contribute, I think he'll say, that's enough. From our end, we hope that's five years, or whatever the period is."
Carolina goalie Antti Raanta said he will need 6-8 weeks to recover from an MCL sprain in his right knee. He was injured in the second period of the Game 7 loss to New York.
"It just felt like something popped and after that it was very painful," Raanta said. "It was just a play where I hopped, and the skate got in (the ice) and the knee just kind of rolled over."
Raanta was 6-5 with a 2.26 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and one shutout in 13 playoff games.
Goalie Frederik Andersen, who did not play in the postseason because of a torn MCL he sustained April 16, said he likely would have been available if the Hurricanes had advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.
