The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup celebration gave fans another special moment on Saturday, June 20, when general manager Eric Tulsky announced a new contract for veteran forward Nic Deslauriers during the team’s parade in Raleigh.

Tulsky announced that the unrestricted free agent had signed a new two-year contract. The crowd immediately erupted with excitement.

A few moments later, Deslauriers took the microphone and delivered a line that quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the parade.

“Two more f****** years”, the player announced, as posted by NHL News on June 20.

A few days after Carolina beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final to win the franchise’s second championship, thousands of fans filled the streets of Raleigh for the celebration. The crowd was already excited as players spoke to fans, but the energy grew even more when Deslauriers’ future with the team became a topic.

The agreement was likely finalized before the parade, but Deslauriers signed it on stage in Raleigh. He was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Hurricanes on March 6 for a 2027 seventh-round pick.

According to NHL.com, the agreement gives Deslauriers a salary of $850,000 for 2026-27 and $900,000 for 2027-28.

"Nic has fit in with our locker room and culture from day one when he got to Raleigh," Tulsky said in a press release. "He provides a veteran presence and adds a physical element to our roster."

For Carolina, the new deal keeps one of the team’s most popular locker-room personalities with the organization for at least two more seasons.

Nic Deslauriers' unusual path to becoming a Stanley Cup champion

While Deslauriers’ contract extension created a lot of excitement, his on-ice role during the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup season was fairly small.

He played just eight total games, including the postseason, and produced one assist, but still gave the Hurricanes toughness with 39 hits.

Deslauriers brought more than just numbers. The 35-year-old veteran is known around the NHL for his physical style, strong leadership, and respected presence in the locker room.

Interestingly, he started his hockey career as a defenseman. The Los Angeles Kings selected him in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He played defense for several years before moving to left wing during the 2013-14 AHL season.

Deslauriers has 106 points in 708 regular-season NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Flyers, and Hurricanes, along with zero points in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.

After a long NHL journey, he finally won his first Stanley Cup with Carolina.

Now, after celebrating a championship and a new contract with thousands of fans, Deslauriers has two more years to continue his career with the Hurricanes.

What do you think of Nic Deslauriers’ new contract? Comment down below. 

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar