3 questions facing Carolina Hurricanes

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, three important questions facing the Carolina Hurricanes.

1. Do the Hurricanes have enough goal-scoring?

This remains the biggest question for the Hurricanes after they were limited to six total goals when they were swept by the Florida Panthers in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. The signing of forward Michael Bunting, who scored 23 goals each of the past two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, to a three-year contract and return of forward Andrei Svechnikov, who scored 23 goals before tearing the ACL in his right knee March 11 and missing the rest of the season, will help.

But the Hurricanes might need more get over the hump to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006. They talked with Vladimir Tarasenko, but general manager Don Waddell said they didn't have space under the NHL salary cap to fit the forward, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 27. So they'll continue to look for help.

"It takes goals to win hockey games, so you're always keeping your eyes open, talking to teams to see if there's anything out there that might fit," Waddell said.

2. Will Brett Pesce or Brady Skjei be traded?

Pesce and Skjei can each become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Though the Hurricanes have had preliminary talks with the defensemen's agents, Waddell said they're not close to reaching an agreement with either. After signing defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Tony DeAngelo, there's enough depth at the position that they could move Pesce or Skjei if they are unable to sign them to new contracts before the start of the season.

Either could bring back the goal-scoring help the Hurricanes are seeking or clear salary cap space so they can sign another forward.

"We'll continue to [talk], but if there's a deal that makes us better at a different position and we can afford to move one of the guys, we certainly are looking at that, for sure," Waddell said.

3. How do they juggle three NHL goalies?

Re-signing Frederik Andersen to a two-year contrcat and Antti Raanta to a one-year deal gave the Hurricanes three goalies on one-way contracts with Pyotr Kochetkov beginning the four-year contract he signed Nov. 23, 2022. Andersen (5-3, 1.83 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) and Raanta (3-3, 2.48 GAA, .909 save percentage) performed well in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but both will be 34 when the season starts and have dealt with injuries the past two seasons.

Kochetkov (12-7-5, 2.44 GAA, .909 save percentage, four shutouts in 24 NHL regular-season games last season) provides insurance and remains Carolina's potential future No. 1 goalie. Finding the 24-year-old playing time could be difficult, though. The Hurricanes don't have an American Hockey League affiliate after their agreement with Chicago expired last season, so they'd need to find another AHL team to loan him to, if they decide to send him down.

"If we need to look at something like that, certainly we have an open mind if it's either him or one of the other two guys," Waddell said. "[Kochetkov] doesn't need waivers, yet."