Hurricanes agree to new contract with Raanta

*Photo from Taiwan News*

   There's another goalie coming back to North Carolina. Goalie Antti Raanta and the Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a one year, $1.5 million contract, according to Darren Dreger of TSN. The Hurricanes have confirmed.

   After joining the Hurricanes along with Frederik Andersen prior to 2021-2022 on a two year deal, Raanta is back in the fold for another season. Andersen was also re-signed, but to another two year deal instead of one like Raanta. The Hurricanes are the 4th team Raanta has played for.

   Hurricanes GM Don Waddell said that "We've been talking to Raanta's agent at the draft, and both Raanta and Andersen had expressed wanting to come back from the day the season ended. But speaking about Rants, we met the agent and we kicked around multiyear deals and he took a little salary cut, which was always hard for a player to do. But when he's played, he's been really good."

   Last season was Raanta's second in a Hurricanes uniform. When healthy and on the ice, he had a 19-3-3 record with 4 shutouts and 13 quality starts. He posted a 2.23 GAA and .910 save percentage in 27 games and 26 starts. He went 3-3 with a .909 save percentage and 2.48 GAA in 6 playoff games.

   Raanta has played for 4 teams over his 10 seasons in the NHL. In that time, he has amassed a 127-73-27 record with 141 quality starts and 19 shutouts. He has a .918 save percentage and 2.43 GAA in 231 starts and 253 games in the regular season. Raanta has a 9-9 record with a 2.48 GAA and .911 save percentage in 19 starts and 24 games in the playoffs.

   A native of Finland, Raanta went to the NHL and debuted in 2013-2014 with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he spent two seasons before playing the next two with the New York Rangers. That led him to the Arizona Coyotes and then the Hurricanes, where he has remained.

   The goalie tandem of Raanta and Andersen won the William Jennings trophy in 2021-2022, and now they're both back in the fold for next season. They join Dmitry Orlov and Michael Bunting as offseason additions.