The Carolina Hurricanes took care of one bit of business on Thursday, reaching a one-year, two-way deal with defenseman Ronan Seeley and avoiding what would have been their lone scheduled arbitration hearing.
Seeley’s contract pays him $100,000 at the AHL level and $850,000 at the NHL level, with a guaranteed minimum salary of $160,000 for the 2026-27 campaign.
The 2020 NHL Draft pick, taken by Carolina at No. 208 overall in the seventh round, got his first taste of NHL action this past season. In his lone appearance with the Hurricanes, the left-shot defenseman did not record a point.
Most of Seeley’s work came with Chicago in the AHL, where he was part of a strong blue line for the Hurricanes’ affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. That group helped carry the Wolves to the Calder Cup Final before they came up short against the Toronto Marlies.
Seeley wore an alternate captain’s letter for Chicago and played in 69 regular-season games, finishing with 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. He added two points in 21 playoff games during the Wolves’ run.
Carolina has been relatively quiet this summer after finally breaking through and winning its second Stanley Cup in franchise history, doing so with a 16-3 march through the postseason.
There has been some roster movement already. Frederik Andersen is now with the Edmonton Oilers, while depth defenseman Mike Reilly remains unsigned.
Alexander Nikishin is still a restricted free agent and cannot receive an offer sheet, though Carolina could still bring him back. His name has also been mentioned this offseason as a possible trade piece if the Hurricanes decide to chase a bigger addition.
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Hurricanes May Be Weighing A Stunning Gamble With Their Blue Line
Alexander Nikishins first full NHL season gave the Hurricanes exactly what they hoped for from a young defenseman, with the rookie showing he could handle a regular role and chip in at both ends. For a team that has spent years trying to stay in the contender lane, that kind of emergence should have made him part of the long-term core, especially with general manager Eric Tulsky already showing a willingness to think big when the right opportunity appears.
Instead, Carolina appears to be weighing whether Nikishin can become part of a larger move that would give the roster more flexibility or help land a proven difference-maker now. The wrinkle is that the blue line is one of the clubs strengths, which is exactly why this kind of decision carries so much weight: keep the young defenseman and build around him, or use a valuable asset to chase immediate help and accept the risk that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
How The Hurricanes Lost One Of Their Most Heated Rivalries
For a stretch in the 2000s, the Hurricanes and Devils were the kind of postseason pairing that could shape a franchises identity. Carolina met New Jersey four times in that span, won three of those series and collected a handful of memorable moments along the way, from bruising hits to clutch goaltending to an overtime winner that still fits neatly into the teams playoff lore.
What has made the rivalry fade is less any single turning point than the way the two clubs have traveled in different directions since realignment. Carolina has remained a steady contender while New Jersey has had a harder time keeping pace, and the gap has shown up in the head-to-head results as well as in the recent playoff meetings between the teams. Even so, the old matchups still linger in the background, because the next chapter between them may say as much about where the Devils are headed as where the Hurricanes already are. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Prospect Charlie Cerrato Just Reached A Bigger Stage
Charlie Cerrato is getting a notable next step in his young career, as the Carolina prospect will represent the defending Stanley Cup champions at the 16th annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago from July 28 to July 30. The event, hosted by the NHLPA and Upper Deck, has become a familiar summer checkpoint for some of hockeys top young names, and Cerratos invitation adds another sign that his path is moving from college standout to pro hopeful.
Cerratos rise has been built on a strong Penn State background, where he produced immediately as a freshman and followed with another productive season before an injury interrupted the year in January. He has already gotten a taste of the pro game, too, after signing a tryout with the Chicago Wolves and appearing in one Calder Cup Playoff game, and he is now entering the second season of his three-year entry-level deal with Carolina. [Read more 🡒]