Ben Shelley: Five non-UFAs who may not be back with the Hurricanes next season

Staal's fine if they accept what he is and quit expecting things he's not. Put him at 3 C and leave him there. Having Dzingel and Neiderreiter is quantity over quality. Replace those 2 with one legit top 6 F and the Canes are better off.

Staal's fine if they accept what he is and quit expecting things he's not. Put him at 3 C and leave him there. Having Dzingel and Neiderreiter is quantity over quality. Replace those 2 with one legit top 6 F and the Canes are better off.
- DarthProbert

Thanks for reading!

Staal will be excellent as a permanent 3C- the problem lies in his contract. If the Hurricanes got a compliance buyout and didn't use it on him, they're going to be stuck with that contract for three years and though it may not be a problem next year, it could be in year two or three.

Totally agree on Dzingel and Niederreiter as quantity over quality but getting a top-six forward back is a bit easier said than done I think. No team is taking on $8.5M between the two of them and giving up a top-six forward in return, so it means multiple deals and a lot of moving parts to make that work.

Staal's fine if they accept what he is and quit expecting things he's not. Put him at 3 C and leave him there. Having Dzingel and Neiderreiter is quantity over quality. Replace those 2 with one legit top 6 F and the Canes are better off.
- DarthProbert

I agree Staal is a good NHL player. He can continue to put up 0.5ppg as a 3c with the quality depth wingers around him, while remaining an elite PK/Faceoff guy. It's amazing how these role players get criticized when their attributes don't show up on the stat sheets. But as a hypothetical compliance buyout, I totally get why he would be targeted.

McGinn would be a wise trade if he can bring a 2nd rd pick or something along those lines. He is underutilized and many teams would love him on their 3rd line. As for Mrazek, now way! I have ZERO faith in Reimer holding down the fort next season. He has only played 40+ games in 2 seasons, and he'll be 33 next season. No way he can handle the majority of starts.

I agree Staal is a good NHL player. He can continue to put up 0.5ppg as a 3c with the quality depth wingers around him, while remaining an elite PK/Faceoff guy. It's amazing how these role players get criticized when their attributes don't show up on the stat sheets. But as a hypothetical compliance buyout, I totally get why he would be targeted.

McGinn would be a wise trade if he can bring a 2nd rd pick or something along those lines. He is underutilized and many teams would love him on their 3rd line. As for Mrazek, now way! I have ZERO faith in Reimer holding down the fort next season. He has only played 40+ games in 2 seasons, and he'll be 33 next season. No way he can handle the majority of starts.
- bikeguy99

Thanks for reading!

On Staal, I don't think Carolina considers using a comp. buyout on him if he's making even $1.5M less. Staal's a leader and an asset and even now at $6M, I think it's really up in the air as to whether or not they'd actually use it on him. But I'd imagine if they are granted one and do decide to use it, he's the guy.

For Mrazek/Reimer, maybe I didn't make it as clear as I should have in the article, but Mrazek was only on that list to be moved in the case that the Hurricanes add a true starter. If they're unable to add a starter in the offseason, Mrazek won't be going anywhere. In no situation should Reimer be the permanent starter.