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RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes will have a different look this season after losing several key players to free agency, but coach Rod Brind’Amour is moving forward.

Carolina has experienced drastic change in the past two weeks, including the departures of forwards Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning), Teuvo Teravainen (Chicago Blackhawks) and Stefan Noesen (New Jersey Devils), and defensemen Brady Skjei (Nashville Predators) and Brett Pesce (Devils), the team’s second pairing for more than four seasons.

“Developing a bond with the players, especially those who have been with us for a while, is inevitable,” Brind’Amour expressed during the team’s development camp on Wednesday. “I won’t lie, it was difficult to see them leave. I do understand that it’s a business and they have to make decisions that are best for them. However, it’s also exciting because we get to welcome a fresh batch of players, and perhaps some of these young talents will earn a spot in the lineup, allowing us to witness their growth. It’s simply the natural progression of things.”

Over the summer, I encountered numerous challenging phone calls that were quite uncommon for me. Our team consists of talented players who are in high demand, but unfortunately, we cannot afford to retain all of them. It’s just the nature of the business. Despite this, I have immense admiration for my former teammates and genuinely wish them the best. On a positive note, I am eagerly looking forward to welcoming the new players who are enthusiastic about being a part of our team and showcasing their skills.

The Hurricanes re-signed two pending unrestricted free agents to three-year contracts, forwards Jordan Martinook ($3.05 million average annual value), and Jalen Chatfield ($3 million AAV). They also signed top defenseman Jaccob Slavin to an eight-year, $51.69 million contract ($6.46 million AAV) that begins in the 2025-26 season. To help soften the blow following the departures of Skjei and Pesce, Carolina signed free agent defensemen Sean Walker (three years, $3.6 million AAV) and Shayne Gostisbehere (three years, $3.2 million AAV).

Gostisbehere returns to the Hurricanes for a second time after a productive season with the Detroit Red Wings, where he recorded 56 points (10 goals, 46 assists) in 81 games. Following his acquisition from the Arizona Coyotes before the NHL Trade Deadline, he contributed 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 23 games during the 2022-23 season. Meanwhile, Walker had a total of 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 81 games last season while playing for both the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers.

The departures of Skjei and Pesce have left significant voids that need to be filled. Skjei, who recorded an impressive 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) and averaged 21:17 of ice time per game, secured a seven-year contract with Nashville worth $7 million AAV. Meanwhile, Pesce, who contributed 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) and averaged 20:17, signed a six-year deal with New Jersey worth $5.5 million AAV.

According to Brind’Amour, every team faces a learning curve. However, there is already some familiarity with ‘Ghost,’ and with Walker joining the team, he is enthusiastic about playing our style of hockey. Many players enjoy our fast-paced and enjoyable approach to the game. Ultimately, these players are talented and if they are willing to adapt, they will succeed.

Last season, Guentzel showcased his skills on both the Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins, accumulating a total of 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) in 67 regular-season games. Following his trade to Carolina on March 7, he contributed significantly with 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in just 17 games. Unfortunately, despite the Hurricanes’ efforts, they were unable to secure a contract with the impending unrestricted free agent. Consequently, Guentzel’s rights were traded to Tampa Bay on June 30. Without wasting much time, he swiftly signed a lucrative seven-year, $63 million contract ($9 million AAV) with the Lightning the very next day.

In his eighth season with Carolina, Tervainen showcased his skills by achieving an impressive total of 53 points, consisting of 25 goals and 28 assists across 76 games. This outstanding performance caught the attention of the Chicago Blackhawks, who originally drafted him in the first round (No. 18) of the 2012 NHL Draft. Consequently, Tervainen secured a three-year contract worth $16.2 million, with an annual average value (AAV) of $5.4 million, with the Blackhawks.

The Hurricanes replenished their forward group with free agents William Carrier (six years, $2 million AAV), Jack Roslovic (one year, $2.8 million), Eric Robinson (one year, $950,000) and Tyson Jost (one year, $775,000). But the losses of Guentzel and Teravainen, along with the uncertain future of restricted free agent Martin Necas, leaves them in the market for more scoring. Necas had 53 points (24 goals, 29 assists) in 77 games last season.

Not only did the players experience a turnover, but Eric Tulsky, who had been serving as an assistant general manager since 2020, was elevated to the position of general manager following Don Waddell’s departure to assume the role of GM for the Columbus Blue Jackets on May 28th.

Brind’Amour stated that he has been impressed with his colleague’s intelligence and proactive approach. Since signing a five-year contract on May 28, they have developed a strong and positive working relationship. Despite their long history together, there was limited communication in the past as it was unnecessary. However, now they have started to communicate more frequently and have spent more time together in the last month than they have in the past decade. Brind’Amour believes that this renewed connection will lead to a fruitful and successful partnership.

Tulsky firmly believes that the Hurricanes have the capability to make further adjustments prior to their home opener against the Lightning on Oct. 11.

Tulsky stated on July 1 that there is ample time before training camp to make changes to the roster. He mentioned that they intend to continue exploring various possibilities and actively pursuing their ideas. Currently, numerous teams are also contemplating ways to terminate contracts that are similar to the ones being signed on July 1.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are confident that they possess a handful of prospects who have the potential to secure a spot on the roster this season. These prospects include Bradley Nadeau (Maine) and Jackson Blake (North Dakota) as forwards, Felix Unger Sorum (Swedish Hockey League) as well as Scott Morrow (UMass-Amherst) on defense.

Brind’Amour stated that while turnover is an unfortunate aspect of business in professional sports, he believes it presents a great opportunity for other players to showcase their skills more prominently than before. He expressed his enthusiasm and curiosity about the upcoming changes, as it will be interesting and exciting to meet and integrate new team members into the existing group.