The Carolina Hurricanes made a big bet on their emerging young star, Jackson Blake, by signing him to an eight-year contract worth $45 million. The extensions, with an AAV of $5.625 million, will keep the exciting young forward in the Hurricanes’ core for years to come. Now entering his second professional season, and having just completed his rookie season, Blake is signed through 2033–34, with the entry-level contract set to expire in 2025–26. This marks one of the NHL’s few well-renowned long-term deals for a player still in his first full season.
Hurricanes commit $45 million to Jackson Blake in an 8-year extension deal.
Who is Jackson Blake?
Blake is a 21-year-old forward from Minnesota, the son of Jason Blake, a former NHL winger. Picked 109th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, he has turned out to be one of the exciting rookies of the 2024–25 NHL season. In 80 regular-season games, Blake scored 17 goals and registered 17 assists, showing tremendous scoring instincts and a maturity that belies his years. He further had three goals and three assists in the Hurricanes’ playoff run.
The organisation lauded Blake’s work ethic, speed, and sense of awareness. Though he came in as a mid-round pick, Blake transformed quite quickly into a top-six forward for Carolina. The offensive wholeness combined with an aggressive forecheck is what prompted so many comparisons to some of the league’s most steady two-way players.
What are the contract terms?
The eight-year contract for Blake will go into effect beginning in the 2026–27 season, once his entry-level deal concludes at the end of the 2025–26 season. It is worth $45 million over the term for an AAV of $5.625 million.
There is deferred compensation in the contract, which should slightly reduce the cap hit. So, it is expected that the practical number will be closer to $5.1 million. Nevertheless, the front office felt it was better to act now and lock in the eight-year term under current CBA rules before changes might hinder such deals in the next agreement.
NBA’s “Rules of the Apron” under new CBA rules for 2024–25: Salary and trade limits for First ($178.7M) and Second ($189.5M) Aprons.
Why did the Hurricanes lock him down now?
The off-season started with the signing of right winger Jackson Blake. Tulsky explains, “The decision was pretty straightforward from where we were sitting: the club looks at Blake as a cornerstone piece in its future.” Jackson plays the game the right way: he is competitive, skilled, and always working hard. We believe in what he brings to the table right now and where he is going.”
Another benefit Blake sees in this deal applies to long-term cost certainty. Locking him into a deal before he hits the supposed prime years will prevent the Hurricanes from pumping up a much higher market value later. It also sends a message to other young players: ‘The franchise encourages development, consistency, and dedication.’
Is this a gamble on potential?
This deal, however, does have some risk. Blake has only one full NHL season behind him. All in all, the Hurricanes are buying into the player`s development, his progress, and an upward trajectory. That said, the structure is a sign of the times in how they want to develop teams: get a player with skill signed early and controlled costs before they go peak.
Down the line, when he is close to finishing this contract, he will be 33 years old. That said, the Hurricanes must be convinced that they are getting a top forward for his prime years. If he continues along the lines predicted, this deal will stand out as a nice bargain when comparing it against what will be going for out there then.
How does this affect the Hurricanes’ salary cap?
The NHL’s salary cap is expected to rise to $104 million for the 2026–27 season. Since Blake’s contract begins that year, his cap numbers should be well within reach. Carolina also recently signed fellow young forward Logan Stankoven, with expectations being placed on both to be the cornerstones of their offensive future.
With both long-term deals accounted for, the Hurricanes may have an estimated cap space of $16 million left to use. This kind of flexibility lets the franchise put good players around the duo while remaining competitive in the East. Importantly, there was no mention of trade clauses, so the Hurricanes have added roster flexibility looking forward.
NHL champions’ top player costs from 2016–2024: cap hit percentage and average contract share per team.
What does this mean for Carolina’s future?
This agreement confirms that Carolina will be entering a new era focused on homegrown talent. The team, once famous for its veteran depth and system style of play, is moving toward a much quicker and more offensively creative identity. Blake and Stankoven embody this.
With the Hurricanes facing early playoff exits in the last few seasons, they were forced to go through some rebuilding changes. The front office wants to build a contender from the inside by investing in youth and locking them down long-term. If Blake can match his numbers with maturity, this contract will be looked upon as a steal in hindsight.
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Final thoughts
The Jackson Blake reroll is a calculated move by a team intent on sustained success. The eight-year, $45 million contract with an $5.625 million AAV affords security for both player and team and long-term planning. Hence, as this entry-level deal runs till 2025–26, with this extension beginning the next season, during which he does indeed have the cornerstone set to become one-goal priority for Carolina. Although a few years are snapping away, Hurricanes are not alone in believing that great things are to come.
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