The Hurricanes have locked up the first of their restricted free agent class, with center Riley Nash agreeing to a new two-year, two-way contract.
Nash enjoyed an offensive breakout with Charlotte last season, setting career highs in assists (24) and points (35) despite playing a career-low 51 games. During a run that saw him score 22 points in his final 18 regular-season outings, the 24-year-old spent most of the season’s second half in the NHL, where he set a career high with 32 games played.
While with the Hurricanes, primarily as the team’s third-line center, he recorded his first NHL goal as part of a three-point night against Florida on March 2. He followed that up with his first multi-goal outing 10 days later in Washington.
Now that he’s again under contract following the expiration of his entry-level contract, Nash will have his sights set on a more permanent role at the NHL level. With brothers Eric and Jordan Staal occupying the Hurricanes’ first two spots at center, Nash and recent first-round draft pick Elias Lindholm are front runners for depth roles, as is Jeremy Welsh, who is on a one-way contract for next season.
Perhaps helping Nash’s case to remain with the big club is the fact that the former first-round draft choice (21st overall to Edmonton in 2007) would require waivers for the first time in order to play for Charlotte next season, making that a riskier assignment than in the past. The same is true of Checkers teammate Zac Dalpe, another restricted free agent who has yet to sign a new deal with the Hurricanes.
At the time of Nash’s signing, the Hurricanes had as many as four open spots at forward, one of which seems likely to go to Lindholm. Nash’s contract is a two-way deal in both years, meaning he would still earn a separate AHL salary with the Checkers.
The Hurricanes still have five restricted free agents from last season’s team who have yet to sign new deals. Other players who received qualifying offers on July 2 are Dalpe, forwards Zach Boychuk and Jared Staal and defenseman Michal Jordan. Goaltender Mike Murphy, who did not need to receive another qualifying offer after leaving for Europe last summer, is also a restricted free agent.
