Hurricanes sign Noel Gunler, Gavin Bayreuther to one-year contracts
The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Gavin Bayreuther and winger Noel Gunler to one-year contracts.
Bayreuther was an unrestricted free agent after spending the season in Switzerland with Lausanne HC. He last had an NHL contract with the Dallas Stars in the 2023-24 season. The salary for his contract is unknown at this point in time, but it is a two-way contract.
Bayreuther had an excellent season in Switzerland to earn himself a return to North America, as he had five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 52 games with the first-placed Lausanne HC, his most productive season in any professional league in five years. He also got two goals and five assists for seven points in 18 playoff games, as Lausanne HC lost to the ZSC Lions in the championship series.
Bayreuther last played in the NHL in the 2022-23 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has five goals and 23 assists for 28 points in 122 career NHL games.
Gunler was a second-round pick for the Hurricanes in 2020, and was a restricted free agent after the conclusion of his three-year entry-level contract with an $862,500 cap hit. While that contract was originally signed in 2022 and set to expire in 2025, Gunler had spent the 2023-24 season in Finland, which slid the final year of his contract to the 2024-25 season.
Gunler’s new contract comes at a cap hit of $813,750, and is a two-way contract, with his AHL salary being $80,000.
Gunler had his best season in North America yet in 2024-25, as he had 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 58 games with the Hurricanes AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. He was also held pointless in two playoff games.
Gunler has yet to make his NHL debut.
The Hurricanes had a busy offseason as they look to take that next step towards Stanley Cup contention, highlighted by signing Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency and trading for K’Andre Miller. They currently have around $10.64 million in salary cap space, with only four RFAs left to re-sign.