The Carolina Hurricanes have secured the services of standout winger Andrei Svechnikov for eight more years. Svechnikov, who was a restricted free agent this offseason, inked a new contract with the Canes that will see him stay in Carolina through the 2029/30 NHL season.
The second overall pick in 2018 will earn a $7.75 million base salary over the course of the deal, becoming one of the franchise’s highest-paid players.
Svechnikov and Hurricanes have been reportedly engaged in negotiations for a while now. They first started talking during the 2020/21 season but couldn’t make an agreement that would satisfy both parties. The two sides even discussed going the “short-term contract” before returning to negotiating table in recent weeks and getting the deal done.
According to Svechnikov, he always saw his long-term future with the franchise and never considered going elsewhere.
“It’s actually an easy decision for me,” Svechnikov told reporters on Thursday. “Eight years to play in Carolina, and I want to be a Hurricane.”
Andrei Svechnikov emerged as one of the key players for the rejuvenated Carolina Hurricanes franchise. In his first season with the organization, he had 20 goals and 17 assists in the regular season while helping the team reach Conference Finals for the first time in 10 years.
Svechnikov followed the successful rookie campaign with 61 points (24 goals and 37 assists) in 2019/20 and 42 points (15 goals and 27 assists) in shortened 2020/21. Canes made the playoffs in both of these seasons.
