Deslauriers Re-signs During Parade
Carolina Hurricanes Extend Nicolas Deslauriers for Two Years During Stanley Cup Celebration
Key Points
Carolina announced Deslauriers’ new deal on the stage during the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup championship parade, with GM Eric Tulsky making the announcement as the team celebrated.
Deslauriers was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Before the March 6 trade, Deslauriers had 24 games with Philadelphia in 2025-26, recording one assist with 85 hits and 33 penalty minutes, while averaging 8:05 of ice time.
In his lone playoff appearance for Carolina, Deslauriers played only 3:09 against the Ottawa Senators as the Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep.
NHL.com noted Deslauriers has no points in six career playoff games.
In a moment few fans will forget, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky walked to the podium at the team's Stanley Cup parade on June 20 and re-signed winger Nicolas Deslauriers on the spot. The crowd cheered as the 35-year-old inked a two-year deal worth $1.75 million, shouting "Two more f***ing years!" to the celebrating fans, according to Dose.ca.
The contract carries an average annual value of $875,000 — $850,000 in 2026-27 and $900,000 in 2027-28 — and keeps Deslauriers from hitting unrestricted free agency on July 1, per Pro Hockey Rumors.
From Trade Deadline Pickup to Cup Champion
Carolina acquired Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers on March 6, 2026, giving up only a conditional seventh-round pick. The condition required Deslauriers to play in at least 50% of playoff games. He appeared in just one, so the pick never transferred — meaning the Hurricanes got him for free, according to Sports Illustrated.
Before the trade, Deslauriers had played 24 games with Philadelphia in 2025-26, recording one assist, 85 hits, and 33 penalty minutes while averaging just 8:05 of ice time per game. In seven regular-season games with Carolina, he added one assist and 35 hits, per NHL.com.
One Playoff Shift, Still Gets the Ring
Deslauriers made one postseason appearance — Game 4 of the first round against the Ottawa Senators on May 2. He logged just 3:09 of ice time as the Hurricanes finished a four-game sweep. NHL.com noted he has zero points in six career playoff games.
Because he played only seven regular-season games and one playoff game, Deslauriers likely falls short of the automatic threshold to have his name engraved on the Cup. However, Pro Hockey Rumors reported the team plans to petition the NHL for his inclusion, pointing to his veteran leadership and the new extension.
Tulsky Picks Culture Over Pure Analytics
Tulsky is widely known as an analytics pioneer — sometimes called the "godfather of hockey analytics." Signing an enforcer-style player to a two-year deal raised some eyebrows. But Tulsky kept it simple: "Nic has fit in with our locker room and culture from day one. He provides a veteran presence and adds a physical element to our roster," per NHL.com.
TSN reported that head coach Rod Brind'Amour pushed for Deslauriers' return to keep the team's physical edge. The decision fits the Hurricanes' "Cinder Block" culture — a philosophy Brind'Amour built around blue-collar work ethic. Deslauriers' career numbers back up his physical style: 708 games, 2,236 hits, and 799 penalty minutes.
A Cap-Friendly Deal With Low Risk for Carolina
At $875,000 AAV, the deal is close to the league minimum. PuckPedia noted the Hurricanes still have roughly $11 million in cap space for 2026-27. If Deslauriers sees limited ice time, his salary can be buried in the minors — making this a near-zero-risk move for the defending champions.
Only defenseman Mike Reilly and goalie Frederik Andersen remain as key unrestricted free agents, per Pro Hockey Rumors. The rest of Carolina's championship core is locked up or still under team control, giving Tulsky a stable roster to defend the title.
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