What happened: The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed forward Viktor Neuchev to a one-year, two-way contract. The 22-year-old winger was acquired by Carolina last season in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Gavin Bayreuther.
Why it matters: The extension keeps organizational forward depth in place after Carolina's 2026 championship run, giving the club a returning AHL scorer under a low-cost, two-way structure.
By the numbers: Neuchev has 28 goals and 75 points in 160 career AHL games, adding two goals and six points in 21 AHL postseason games last season.
What to watch: Neuchev heads into training camp competing for an NHL roster spot, with the two-way structure allowing Carolina to option him to the AHL.