Carolina Hurricanes Lock Up Eddie Lack

At the NHL draft, the Carolina Hurricanes made a splash by acquiring goalie Eddie Lack from the Vancouver Canucks. Now the team locks up Lack for a couple of seasons, signing the goalie to a two year deal worth $2..5 million in 2016-17 and $3 million in 2017-18. Lack, on the last year of his current contract, was going to be a free agent after this season.

Last season, Eddie Lack had a recorded of 18-13-4, GAA of 2.45 and a save percentage of .921. In Vancouver, everyone had their eye on him as they had expectations of making it back to the playoffs, and maybe make a deep run. Lack was a big part of the success that Vancouver had last season they made it to the playoffs, but got eliminated in round one by Calgary Flames.

There is a lot to like about Eddie Lack. He can make big saves in clutch moments, he is great at protecting the crease, and he knows how to put a team on his back and win the game on his own. There are some things that Lack needs to work on, but going to a place like Carolina getting out of a pressure environment like Vancouver will be good for him.

Signing him to a extension now instead of waiting for end of the season was a smart idea by the team. It is not a lot of money the team is giving him, but the team hoping that Lack could give the team a good one-two punch at goalie, with starter Cam Ward being on the decline during the past few years. If Lack performs better then Ward in the next three seasons, expect him to be getting the multimillion dollar deal that every player wants.

Eddie Lack has high expectations in Carolina. There is a reason why the team traded for him. Since Ward is getting older, the team wants Lack to become the future of the franchise at goalie. It might take him a season or two before he gets the starting job since Ward is still a suitable goalie, but if he can outperform him in net, the job will be his for the taking.