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Hurricanes Sign Veteran Forward to Two-Year Contract Extension
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- Hurricanes Sign Veteran Forward to Two-Year Contract Extension
The Carolina Hurricanes have been on the verge of a Stanley Cup for several years now, and with eight straight victories to start the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, this year is their best chance yet.
They've put themselves in this position by building not only their group of superstars over the years, but with their depth, and in their back-to-back sweeps, the depth has come up huge for the Canes. During their sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers, it was Jackson Blake that stood up huge, but there were contributions from many veterans, including Mark Jankowski, who has one assist across eight games in the postseason.
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Carolina Hurricanes left wing Mark Jankowski (77) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders during the third period at UBS Arena. Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
The 31-year-old former first-round pick arrived in Carolina a year ago, and while many didn't see him making much of an impact, he was a solid player for the team following his arrival. In 2025-26, he posted 11 goals and 21 points across 68 games played, with the point tally being the highest of his career since way back in 2018-19 with the Calgary Flames.
Given that production and the stability he brings to the bottom-six, it's no surprise that GM Eric Tulsky wanted to keep Jankowski around, with the team now officially announcing a two-year extension for the veteran.
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The two-year deal carries with it an AAV of $1.85 million, and while he may never have blossomed into the star that the Flames hoped when he was picked No. 21 overall back in 2012, he's as reliable a veteran as there is in the National Hockey League.
Related: Hurricanes Coach Rod Brind'Amour's Handshake With Flyers' Rick Tocchet Draws Attention
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
