The Carolina Hurricanes made one of their final pre-free agency moves on Monday, sorting through qualifying offers for a group of restricted free agents and leaving a few notable names without one.
Out of 11 eligible players, seven were extended qualifying offers, preserving the Hurricanes’ rights on each of them. That group includes forwards Viktor Neuchev, Noel Gunler and Justin Robidas; defensemen Alexander Nikishin, Aleksi Heimosalmi and Ronan Seeley; and goaltender Cayden Primeau.
Those seven now have the first 15 days of free agency to accept the offers. Even after that window, Carolina can still keep negotiating new contracts.
The players who did not receive qualifying offers were forward Skyler Brind'Amour, defenseman Domenick Fensore, and goaltenders Amir Miftakhov and Nikita Quapp. Brind'Amour’s situation stands out most, since he is the son of Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour.
He made his NHL debut late in the 2024-25 season and scored a goal in that appearance. Fensore, meanwhile, has appeared in three NHL games over the past two seasons and has been a major piece for the Chicago Wolves.
Brind'Amour and Fensore both seemed like possible return candidates for another year, even if they’re already on the older side for AHL players with limited NHL time. The decisions on Miftakhov and Quapp were less surprising. They are still free to return to Carolina as unrestricted free agents, but that looks unlikely right now.
It’s the kind of business that can be cold, even when it’s routine. Letting Brind'Amour reach the market is an awkward call on paper, but the Hurricanes are clearly making the choices they believe best position the organization going forward. The next step will be sorting out new deals for the seven players who were qualified, and those conversations should be settled by the time training camp rolls around.
In Other News...
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Tight End Answer For Bryce Young
The Panthers have spent years trying to patch together a tight end room that never quite gave Bryce Young the kind of reliable middle-of-the-field answer every young quarterback needs. Since 2019, no Carolina tight end has gotten to 500 receiving yards, which helps explain why the position keeps coming up whenever the roster is discussed and why potential fixes tend to draw so much attention.
A few names already sit in the mix as Carolina weighs whether to trade, shop in free agency or simply keep looking for the right fit. Michael Mayer has been floated as a more sensible trade avenue than some other options, while Darren Waller still has enough juice to make the idea interesting after flashing in Miami, including a strong showing against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium last season. Jonnu Smith, though, has emerged as the most practical target of the group, and if Carolina is serious about stabilizing this part of the offense, the choice may come down to whether it wants upside, familiarity or the cleanest path to making the position matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Tight End Upgrade Bryce Young Needs
The Panthers have spent the offseason trying to make the roster sturdier around Bryce Young, adding help on defense with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd and giving the future a little more upside with rookies like Monroe Freeling and Chris Brazzell II. The next obvious step is finding more reliable production at tight end, a spot that can make life easier for a young quarterback by cleaning up the middle of the field and giving him another dependable outlet when plays break down.
That is why the idea floating around ESPN caught some attention, even if it is still just that, an idea. Carolina has been linked to a potential move for a high-end tight end who has the kind of track record that would fit what the Panthers need, and Detroit's financial picture only adds to the speculation. Any deal would not be simple, though, because a trade would almost certainly have to come with real draft value and the kind of long-term commitment that turns a rumor into a major roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Sounds Off After Troubling News About Former NFL Star
Chris Johnsons health news has landed with a jolt across the football world, and it has a lot of former players thinking beyond the diagnosis itself. The former running back carved out a remarkable NFL career from 2008 to 2017, highlighted by six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a reputation as one of the fastest backs of his era, so hearing his name attached to a serious long-term illness naturally carries extra weight in league circles.
On his podcast, Cam Newton focused less on nostalgia and more on what comes next for the NFL and the people who played in it. Newton said he is very intrigued to see how the league responds and what its plan is to make the game safer while better protecting former players, a question that has only grown louder as more ex-NFL players have dealt with ALS. For Carolina fans, it was a reminder that the conversation around footballs toll does not end when a players career does. [Read more 🡒]