The Carolina Hurricanes have signed winger Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year contract, keeping a veteran depth forward in the NHL club's plans before he reached unrestricted free agency.
Pro Hockey Rumors reported that general manager Eric Tulsky announced the deal during team-event remarks, with team reporter Walt Ruff among those carrying the update. The agreement carries an $875,000 average annual value, according to PHR.
Deslauriers Stays With Carolina
NHL's player search API lists Deslauriers as an active Carolina Hurricanes left wing, confirming the player-team connection. The same NHL data lists him at No. 44 and identifies Carolina as his current team.
Deslauriers, 35, had been set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. PHR reported that his new annual value matches the NHL minimum salary in each season of the two-year term.
Carolina acquired Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline for forward depth and physicality. PHR reported that the Hurricanes sent a seventh-round pick to Philadelphia in that deal.
Depth Role Remains The Point
Deslauriers played 24 games for the Flyers in 2025-26, recording one assist, 85 hits and 33 penalty minutes while averaging 8:05 of ice time, according to PHR. After the trade, he appeared in seven regular-season games for Carolina, adding one assist and 35 hits.
NHL's player API lists his 2025-26 regular-season total at 31 games, two assists, 38 penalty minutes and 18 shots. It also lists one playoff appearance for Carolina, with 3:09 of ice time.
The broader career profile explains the signing. NHL data credits Deslauriers with 708 regular-season games, 53 goals, 53 assists, 799 penalty minutes and 2,236 hits.
This is not a headline-grabbing top-six move. It is a roster floor decision: Carolina keeps a physical reserve winger at a minimum-level cap number while larger offseason decisions remain ahead.