The start of NHL free agency is always an exciting time for hockey fans, and this year was no exception. On opening day, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes made some big moves to bolster their rosters.
The Rangers signed former Dallas Stars forward Artemi Panarin to a seven-year, $81.5 million contract. Panarin is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL, and his addition to the Rangers’ lineup should make them a much more dangerous team. They also added defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for defenseman Neal Pionk and a first-round draft pick. Trouba is a top-pairing defenseman who can play in all situations, and he should help solidify the Rangers’ defense.
The Hurricanes also made some big moves on opening day. They signed former San Jose Sharks forward Erik Haula to a two-year, $5.25 million contract. Haula is a versatile forward who can play both center and wing, and he should provide some much-needed scoring depth for the Hurricanes. They also signed former Buffalo Sabres forward Jimmy Vesey to a two-year, $4.55 million contract. Vesey is a physical forward who can play both center and wing, and he should help the Hurricanes’ bottom-six forward group.
Overall, it was an exciting day of free agency for both the Rangers and Hurricanes. Both teams made some big moves to improve their rosters, and they should be much better teams in the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see how these moves pan out in the long run, but for now, both teams have improved their chances of making a deep playoff run.
