Mark Jankowski Just Signed Through 2028, and the Hurricanes Are Already Planning for the Cup

The Carolina Hurricanes locked up forward Mark Jankowski on a two-year extension worth $1.85 million per year, keeping the 31-year-old in Raleigh through the 2027-28 season. The deal came down Monday, just two days after the Hurricanes became the first team since 1987 to sweep both the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs in best-of-seven series.

A Fourth-Line Anchor Who Shows Up When It Counts

Jankowski has been the definition of reliable for Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward put up 11 goals and 10 assists during the regular season in 68 games, but his playoff performance is what's turning heads. He's chipped in an assist across eight playoff games so far, and honestly, he should have more on the board. Two of his goals got waved off on video review: an apparent overtime winner in Game 2 against Ottawa that was called back for offsides, then another in Saturday's Game 4 clincher against Philadelphia that got negated by a goaltender interference call on teammate William Carrier.

Building Around Proven Depth

General Manager Eric Tulsky made the call clear in his statement: "Mark has been an excellent fit for our organization throughout his time here. He's proven he can contribute in different ways, and we are glad he's chosen to remain with the organization."

The Hurricanes grabbed Jankowski in a March 2025 trade with Nashville, and he's delivered exactly what they needed. Now, with the franchise sitting in the Eastern Conference final awaiting the winner of Montreal vs. Buffalo, Carolina is taking care of business on the roster front. This is the team's third Conference Finals appearance in four seasons, and keeping a veteran presence like Jankowski locked in is smart business.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.