October 27, 2025 | 12:52pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

HURRICANES CONTINUE TO EYE BIG FISH

Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky

The Carolina Hurricanes took two big swings in each of the last two seasons and it would not surprise anyone in the NHL if GM Eric Tulsky takes another one at some point this season.

Two seasons ago, the Hurricanes acquired Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins, but lost in the second-round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers. Guentzel then signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent that off-season.

Last season, the Hurricanes acquired Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche, but ended up flipping him to the Dallas Stars later in the season because Rantanen was not willing to sign an extension with the club. He did so with Dallas, and the Hurricanes landed Logan Stankoven from the Stars. The Hurricanes then lost to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.

This season, it appears Tulsky is willing to try again, if the right opportunity presents itself.

“We’re always looking to get better,” Tulsky told Michael Russo of The Athletic. “We’re going to look at everything that comes up, whether something gets labeled as big-game hunting or sort of more routine moves. That’s a matter of how the media and fans want to see it. But we’re just looking for anything we can find that’ll make our team better. I think every team wants to bring stars if they can. Stars are hard to come by. If we see an opportunity to get a player, a star almost always makes your team better and so it’s always going to be something we’re talking about.”

As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported last week on both SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and DFO Rundown Insider Edition, the Hurricanes are among the teams, along with Utah and Ottawa, willing to make a big splash this season.

The Hurricanes have more than $8 million in salary cap space, according to CapWages.com, and have plenty of flexibility to add to their roster this season, something owner Tom Dundon is believed to have given Tulsky the green light to do.

One area the Hurricanes could try to upgrade is between the pipes, where Freddie Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, who is currently injured, reside.

“We’re always looking for ways to upgrade the team anywhere. Goaltending is no exception,” Tulsky said. “Freddie has been really good for us. Pyotr’s got a minor issue, but he’ll be back soon and we’re very comfortable where we are. We’re always going to look and see if there are opportunities to get better, but it doesn’t mean we’re not content with where we are. We believe we have goalies who are capable of winning a Cup for us.”