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Top 5 Free Agents the Carolina Hurricanes should target

By Christian Candeloro

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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5. Internal Options

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 12: Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts during the second period against the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 12: Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts during the second period against the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Hurricanes should first and foremost target resigning some of their internal free agents. If Justin Williams decides to play another season, the Hurricanes should make the easiest decision of the off-season and bring him back. The captain seemed to slightly lose his legs towards the end of the season but his intangibles and skill would be too hard to replace.

Williams will be 38 when the 2019-20 season starts and he carried a $4.5 million cap hit last year but he played all 82 games, notching 23 goals and 30 assists. He added four goals and three assists in 15 playoff games. Resigning him is an absolute no-brainer.

Gregg McKegg and Brock McGinn played good hockey down the stretch and are still relatively young. Of course, Sebastian Aho and Alex Nedeljkovic also enter the offseason as RFAs and will need new contracts.

The toughest decision probably resides with forward Michael Ferland, who scored 17 goals and 23 assists in 71 games but did not make an impact in the Hurricanes postseason run. If the Hurricanes can keep him close to last season’s contract ($1.75 million cap hit) it would be a good idea to keep him in Raleigh.

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