Sebastian Aho’s 26th birthday was already shaping up to be great, thanks to his mother’s home-cooked dinner of salmon and vegetables. But it got even better when he received a lucrative contract extension from the Carolina Hurricanes. The franchise, formerly known as the Hartford Whalers, signed Aho to an eight-year deal worth $78 million, making it the richest contract in their history. Aho will be under contract until 2032 with an annual salary cap hit of $9.75 million starting from the 2024-25 NHL season.
“This is the place I want to play,” Aho said during a video call with reporters from Finland. “The organization has made significant progress over the past five years, and we feel like we’re building something special every year.”
Aho, the Hurricanes’ top center, has been instrumental in the team’s five consecutive playoff appearances. He has recorded impressive stats with 468 points in 520 regular-season games and 58 points in 63 playoff games.
General manager Don Waddell praised Aho as the team’s most crucial player. He also highlighted the importance of coach Rod Brind’Amour, whom Aho is eager to play for. Brind’Amour signed his own extension two years ago.
Carolina’s core remains intact with the re-signings of captain Jordan Staal, winger Jesper Fast, and goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta. They also have Teuvo Teravainen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi under contract.
Securing Aho’s extension is a significant step in the Hurricanes’ quest for their second Stanley Cup championship. Waddell emphasized the importance of having key players in place to compete for the Cup consistently.
Aho is optimistic about Carolina’s chances, stating, “This is the best team on paper that we’ve ever had. We have a real shot at being the best team in the league.”
The Hurricanes have also made notable moves in free agency, signing defenseman Dmitry Orlov to a two-year deal and forward Michael Bunting to a three-year deal. They also brought back defenseman Tony DeAngelo. The team is rumored to be interested in scoring winger Vladimir Tarasenko and has discussed trading for defenseman Erik Karlsson. Waddell is actively exploring options to improve the team further.
The Hurricanes’ general manager is pleased with their offseason and will continue to engage with other teams and free agents in the hopes of making the team even stronger before the start of the season.
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