The Carolina Hurricanes have signed right-handed defenseman Sean Walker to a five-year contract price $3.6 million every season. Contemplating his upside, this truly looks as if a doable steal of a deal if the 29-year-old defender can play to his potential.
With the Philadelphia Flyers, Walker reached new heights in his sport and unlocked his potential in a contract yr. He’s being rewarded for that right here.
Walker Rejuvenated His Profession in Philadelphia
The way in which Walker bought to the Flyers is considerably ironic given this contract. Within the 2023 offseason, the Los Angeles Kings despatched his $2.65 million AAV to Philadelphia primarily as a cap dump. Seeing because the Flyers have been rebuilding, he was thrust right into a second-pairing function for them—he didn’t disappoint.
With the Flyers, Walker was dominant in all three zones. In transition, he was sensational and actually complemented the best way Philadelphia performed the sport completely. He cherished to affix the push but was accountable sufficient to not get himself into bother when he did so. They traded him on the deadline to the Colorado Avalanche, which is the place his sport began to fall again a bit.
Associated:Â 2024 Free Company Tracker
Walker nonetheless completed his 2023-24 season with 10 objectives and 19 assists for 29 factors and a plus-11 score in 81 video games, however he wasn’t pretty much as good of a schematic match for Colorado as he was for Philadelphia. In 11 playoff video games there, he had zero factors and a minus-5 score. He principally performed two completely different seasons—the one with the Flyers is what he’s being paid for. Maybe this alteration of surroundings can enable him to carry out at his finest.
Match with Carolina
With each Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce leaving the Hurricanes in free company, this deal is sensible for them. Needing a alternative on their protection, Walker generally is a high-upside play for them. He appears to be a pleasant schematic match for the best way that they play. Doubtless their second-pairing alternative, the worth is sweet right here.
After shedding Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Skjei, and Pesce in free company, the Hurricanes additionally signed Shayne Gostisbehere to a three-year deal. This could possibly be a future pairing in 2024-25 and past, however even these two defensive signings give Carolina some wiggle room. There are a couple of extra strikes that they might make, so keep tuned.
