The Carolina Hurricanes have a distinct strategy in drafting Russian players, selecting the most Russians in the past five NHL drafts and allocating the highest draft capital to them. Despite historical stereotypes, the focus is now on scouting challenges due to travel restrictions and KHL contracts. In NHL free agency, the Seattle Kraken made significant moves, signing players like Chandler Stephenson, though facing criticisms for the contract lengths and costs. Meanwhile, the NHL offseason is in full swing with numerous signings, including the Seattle Kraken trading defenseman Brian Dumoulin to the Anaheim Ducks after his solid performance, highlighting salary cap management challenges.