The race for the top defenseman on the market has officially widened. Agent Rick Curran has begun taking calls from interested teams regarding star blueliner John Carlson after the Carolina Hurricanes were unable to finalize a deal before the noon ET deadline on Wednesday, per Pierre LeBrun.
While Carlson has not completely closed the door on a return to Carolina, the expiration of the exclusive negotiating window allows other franchises to enter the mix for the elite defender. According to LeBrun, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers are expected to be among the primary suitors currently inquiring about the veteran blueliner.
Carlson enters the market as the consensus top unrestricted free agent defenseman available. The Hurricanes had held exclusive rights to negotiate with him leading up to the midday deadline, but the failure to reach an agreement now permits Curran to field offers from across the league. The shift to the open market significantly increases the competition for the high-scoring defenseman, who remains a focal point of NHL free agency.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting
