The Carolina Hurricanes look to have appointed a new general manager after Don Waddell left the organization for the Columbus Blue Jackets after nearly a decade in the role. Eric Tulsky, who was named interim GM at the end of May, will take over full-time duties, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.
“Sources say candidates in the Carolina GM search have been notified that the team plans to fill the role internally,” the hockey insider reported on Monday. “Believe that means Eric Tulsky will become the next [Hurricanes] GM. He has been interim GM since Don Waddell resigned to join [Blue Jackets].”
Waddell resigned from his position within the organization back on May 24, shortly after taking on the vacant position in Ohio.
“This morning, I spoke with [owner] Tom Dundon and informed him that I have come to the decision that now is the time for me to move to the next chapter of my career,” Waddell said at the time. “I have loved my experiences in the Triangle over the past 10 years, and together with a strong team, on and off the ice, we have accomplished many great victories. I am grateful for the support I have received from so many loyal Caniacs. This organization is in strong, capable hands and well-positioned for the future.”
If Seravalli's reporting is correct, Tulsky will take over at the helm after spending the last 10 years in the Hurricanes organization. He joined as a consultant in 2014, became a hockey analyst in 2015, and was elevated to manager of hockey analytics in 2017. The next year, he was again promoted, this time to vice president of hockey management and strategy.
In 2020, Tulsky took on the role of assistant general manager, and “has been involved in all player personnel decisions, overseen pro scouting and the team’s hockey information department, and assisted with player contract negotiations, salary cap compliance, and other hockey-related matters,” wrote Carolina's PR team at the end of May.
Tulsky holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, but the executive will now continue to focus on hockey as he takes over the GM role in the midst of a crucial summer in Raleigh.
Crucial offseason looms for Hurricanes
The Hurricanes built another Stanley Cup contending roster in 2023-24 under Waddell, and it looked like Jake Guentzel might be the missing piece after he was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline.
But the Canes were again unable to get over the hump, dispatching the New York Islanders for the second straight time in the first round before bowing out to the President's Trophy winning New York Rangers in a hard-fought six-game Round 2.
It's another too-long offseason in Raleigh as the front office looks to make the necessary tweaks to get this core to a championship series for the first time. Carolina hasn't played in a Stanley Cup Final since beating the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game thriller in 2006.
And Tulsky will have his hands full this summer — if and when he is confirmed as the franchise's next general manager. The Hurricanes have eight pending unrestricted free agents on July 1, and another four RFA's. The most important ones are the defensive pairing of Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce, along with Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen up front.
It will be very interesting to see how Tulsky fares both at the NHL draft and in free agency as he tries to steer a terrific roster to the Stanley Cup Final in 2025.
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