Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes concluded their playoff run after being defeated by the Florida Panthers in five games during the Eastern Conference Final. As Burns’ eight-year, $64 million contract expires, he will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, leaving his future with the Hurricanes uncertain.
In a media session following the Hurricanes’ locker room clean-out, Burns expressed his strong connection to the team and his desire to remain with the organization. Yet, he acknowledged the unpredictability surrounding his next steps in the NHL.
“We’ll see what happens, but we love it here and would love for it to work out,” Burns said via NHL.
Burns disclosed that he underwent surgery after the previous season and spent much of this season managing his physical recovery and closely monitoring how his body was responding. This impacted his offensive performance, resulting in a decline compared to his point totals in prior seasons.
Should Burns choose to continue playing, whether with Carolina or another team, he is expected to sign a shorter contract with a salary considerably lower than his previous $8 million cap hit. Throughout the playoffs, he contributed five points, including one goal and four assists across 15 games. During the regular season, Burns accumulated 29 points with six goals and 23 assists, finishing with a +7 rating.
Carolina Hurricanes Coach Rod Brind’Amour Addresses Tough Series Against Panthers
Rod Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes’ head coach, has built a competitive team during his seven-year tenure, guiding Carolina into consistent playoff appearances. Despite a talented roster and strong regular-season performances, the team has struggled to advance deep into the playoffs.
After the recent loss in the Eastern Conference Final, Brind’Amour commented on the physical intensity of the series and the team’s challenge in adapting to an elevated level of competition from the Panthers.
“We came off a real hard, physical series, and all of a sudden, it went to another level,” Brind’Amour said via NHL. “It took us a little time to adapt to it, and I thought we did. We were good. You just can’t give these guys a 3-0 lead and expect to come back. It’s a big hole.”
Under Brind’Amour’s leadership, the Hurricanes have compiled a record of 325-160-49 but have fallen short of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, losing three conference finals during his stint. The recent playoff exit adds to the ongoing quest for postseason success within the organization.
Brent Burns’ future with the Carolina Hurricanes remains a central question as the team prepares for the offseason. His decision will likely impact the roster and the team’s strategy moving forward, especially considering his experience and contributions on defense. The Hurricanes, led by Brind’Amour, will now focus on regrouping and addressing the challenges exposed during their playoff run.