Scott Darling has signed a new contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Good for Darling! He deserves it. He is be a great starter for the Canes. Absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will be a difference maker for that team.

This is a large commitment to a guy who has never been an NHL starter. A big risk for Carolina, but potentially big reward.

I think it's a good signing ... really, i think they kind of needed a goalie.

Does this mean Cam Ward will be left unprotected in the expansion draft? And what becomes of Eddie Lack? He didn't really earn the trust of his coach in the latter stages of last year.
So now the Canes have 3 goalies under contract for next season. One is getting old, one had many faults, and the future starter in Darling.

Not sure what the point of the signing was. Do they have a plan with Vegas to take a goalie? Otherwise I assume they are waiving one because I don't see them leveraging any team into assets for a player like Lack/Ward when they know CAR isn't going to carry three all season.

There's a good chance one of Ward/Lack will be bought out. Probably Lack since Ward has been their franchise goalie for years. Like you said, I can't think of a team that will want to take on one of them, so a buyout is the most likely route.

thought so. They each have one year left right?

Correct.

You're right, they might leave Ward unprotected now that i think about it.

Hot take...