Hurricanes Announce 2-Year Extension For Recovery During Stanley Cup Parade – Hockey Writers – Carolina Hurricanes

We’ve seen players get extensions at different times of the year, but has any player ever gotten one during the Stanley Cup Parade? When the city of Raleigh saw 150,000 Caniacs descend on City Plaza downtown, general manager Eric Tulsky pulled a move that shocked everyone but also made everyone happy.

ID-Lo for 2 More

It was announced during the festivities that the Carolina Hurricanes have extended forward Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year, $1.75 million contract. The average annual cost will be $850,000 in 2026-27 and $900,000 in 2027-28. He is expected to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) as of July 1. However, he will extend his stay in Raleigh for the next two seasons after winning the Stanley Cup.

Tulsky later commented on Deslauriers’ expansion, “Nic has been integral to our locker room and culture since day one when he arrived in Raleigh. He provides a veteran presence and adds something tangible to our roster.”

Deslauriers became a Hurricane when the team acquired him on March 6 for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. He played in seven regular season games for Carolina, including one assist. In addition, he dressed for Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Deslauriers played because Nikolaj Ehlers was absent due to injury. With 3:09 in ice time in that game, he helped defuse things as they reached a boiling point.

In his career, Deslauriers played 708 games split between the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers, and Hurricanes. He has totaled 53 goals, 106 points, and 799 penalty minutes in that span.

Deslauriers’ extension will leave the Hurricanes with $11.1 million left in cap space. Currently, all 14 players who were on the Stanley Cup team have been signed for next season. Barring any trades, I’m not sure we’ll see any free agent signings, but Tulsky always has a plan and a trick up his sleeve.

Only Frederik Andersen and Mike Reilly remain UFA players. Alexander Nikishin will be a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration eligibility.

As for Deslauriers, he will add a body that can help against some teams next season and beyond. In addition, he has a locker room that has already bought into the personality and chemistry of the Hurricanes. He is still a favorite among his teammates and will continue to build on that until 2027-28.

While it won’t really move the needle, it’s a solid tactical depth move against certain teams and in case of injury. An extra body never hurts to have, especially in the playoffs. His spot on the roster is uncertain, as he could be the 13th forward, 14th forward, or something else.

Either way, keeping Deslauriers was a low-risk move, keeping a locker room veteran under $1 million per season. First the Stanley Cup and now a two-year extension; talk about an amazing three months for “D-Lo,” as he will be a short-term Hurricanes player and not a rental.

Now the only thing left to do is celebrate big and see what No. 44 can bring to the ice over the next two seasons in Raleigh. No matter the role, he will do whatever is asked with a smile on his face. Practice for the Deslauriers in Raleighwood for the next two seasons; he’s not going anywhere, especially after becoming a Stanley Cup champion.