Old North Banter
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5 Questions the Hurricanes Must Answer this Offseason

By Tyler Young

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 03: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on November 03, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 03: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on November 03, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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3.) Goalie Situation

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends net against the New York Islanders in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 26, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends net against the New York Islanders in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 26, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Canes goalie situation was wild from day 1. mere days before opening night, Scott Darling gets injured and in comes Curtis McElhinney. Thus began a saga with ups and downs that eventually settled into a two-man rotation with Mrazek and McElhinney sitting on similar footing.

The offseason brings the drama back, as now we sit with four goalies, three of which will be free agents and one who is likely to be bought out of his contract. With Darling unlikely to be with the team next season, That leaves UFA Mrazek, UFA McElhinney, and RFA Alex Nedljkovic. Nedeljkovic is coming off a superb season where he was named AHL Goalie of the Year. To top it all off, Goalie Coach Mike Bales resigned his post recently, leaving who to lead and develop this enigmatic group as another question mark.

How this all shakes out will be vital for success in the future. Re-signing Ned is a no-brainer, but is he ready for the NHL? If so, which of the others do you re-sign? The best case scenario as I see it is re-sign Mrazek and call up Ned as the back up. Losing McElhinney’s calming, veteran presence will hurt, but moving toward young stars is more likely to secure the future of the position.

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