2024 Offseason Free Agency Overview

Who is due for a new deal this summer?

By Walt Ruff

@WaltRuff Hurricanes.com

May 23, 2024

RALEIGH, NC. - As we transition from the season that was to the summer ahead, allow us to set the stage for what's to come.

Many have understood this was coming for a long time, but it is going to be a busy summer for the Carolina Hurricanes. Perhaps one of the most important ones ever, too.

Between restricted free agents (10) and unrestricted free agents (10), there will be lots of movement.

Restricted Free Agents (RFAs)

The following players played at least one game for the Canes this year and are RFAs this summer:

Dylan Coghlan
Max Comtois
Jack Drury
Seth Jarvis
Martin Necas

The following players did not play for the Canes this year, but are also RFAs:

Griffin Mendel
Blake Murray
Ty Smith
Ryan Suzuki (*re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract on May 29*)
Tuukka Tieksola

Qualifying Offers

(Info courtesy of PuckPedia)

In order for a team to keep a player's RFA status, they must provide a Qualifying Offer. If they do not provide a Qualifying Offer, the player becomes a UFA. Qualifying Offers must be provided to the player by the later of the Monday after the Entry Draft or June 25.

Qualifying Offer Requirements

Most Recent Salary	Required Qualifying Offer %
$750K to $999K	105% to maximum $1.0M
$1.0M or more - Contract signed before July 2020	100%
$1.0M or more - Contract signed after July 2020	The lesser of: a) 100% of most recent salary b) 120% of cap hit

A Qualifying Offer cannot actually be accepted before July 1. If a Qualifying Offer is not accepted, it expires by July 15 unless extended in writing by the team.

Signing Deadline

A Group 2 RFA must sign by 5 p.m. EST on December 1 in order for the contract to be valid for the season. An RFA would not have a valid contract and therefore cannot play if signed after December 1.