Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen gets final verdict on eve of free agency
Billy HeyenTue, June 30, 2026 at 8:47 PM UTC·2 min readHurricanes' Frederik Andersen gets final verdict on eve of free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Frederik Andersen led the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe didn't get to finish the job, though, and now he might be leaving.
Andersen left in Game 3 and never returned, and at 36 years old, his time with the Hurricanes could be coming toward an end.
Brandon Bussi closed out the championship, and Carolina has too many goalies.
"The only question is what becomes of Andersen," ESPN's Ryan S. Clark and Kristin Shelton wrote in a blurb after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. "The 36-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, and carried Carolina most of the way through its postseason run. It's not hyperbole to suggest that the Canes wouldn't have reached the Cup Final without his string of strong performances throughout the first three rounds. However, Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov are signed through next season, and unless Carolina wants to carry three goaltenders again, Andersen might be the odd man out."
MORE: What the Gavin McKenna pick means for the Maple Leafs
The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn added to that with this simple sentence about the Hurricanes on Tuesday, the day before free agency opens:
"The team looks set with everyone but Frederik Andersen returning."
It's just a foregone conclusion at this point that he's gone.
Plenty of other teams need goalies, so given how well Andersen played throughout the playoffs, he should have no trouble landing another gig.
By the same token, it's a sad ending in Carolina.
The Hurricanes were dominant throughout the early stages of the playoffs in part because Andersen wasn't giving up anything.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBut instead of Andersen being the hero in the championship series, all he could do was watch.
Now, it seems like he won't be part of next season's opening night ring ceremony, either.
More NHL news:
How 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Has Become His Own Worst Enemy
How 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Has Become His Own Worst Enemy
What seemed like a guarantee a month ago is now in doubt.Jose Sanchez|
In this story:
San Francisco 49ersIt's been quite an eventful last couple of weeks with Brandon Aiyuk going on a social media rampage.
He's been nonstop on there, from posting videos, where he takes shots at the San Francisco 49ers, to acting like he's already signed with the Washington Commanders. It's been odd to put it lightly.
And while he isn't doing anything egregious, his social media antics have only hurt himself. It's gotten to a point where it's no longer a guarantee that the Commanders will sign him once he's released.
The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, who covers the Commanders closely, has alluded to that. You can read her full thoughts about that here.
Aiyuk will regret social media videos
If what Jhabvala alluded to comes to pass, then Aiyuk will regret his social media videos. This entire time, he's been his own worst enemy.
His videos have done nothing but strengthen the negative perspective about him. All he's done is prove how immature he is and that he's a red flag.
He may think there's no harm in the videos. He's not doing anything different than a lot of people do on social media, which is post for attention. That is what I think is driving him with his videos.
But NFL teams aren't going to like that, especially with how constant he's been positing oddly. He's viewing this like a game.
For a player who is coming off a torn ACL and MCL, he would've done better if he posted videos of how he looks running routes and working out.
Even telling his side of the story would've been fair game. Now, he's viewed as this toxic individual, and it's reached a point where it's no longer a guarantee the Commanders will sign him.
It's not like he is communicating with the Commanders behind the scenes. He doesn't even have an agent to do that for him, so he's just basing that off of reports or chats with Jayden Daniels.
Reality will hit Aiyuk like a truck when he's released. He will expect to join the Commanders immediately when the 49ers finally cut him, only to realize they'll hesitate.
I think it will reach that point for the Commanders. It doesn't matter if Aiyuk will be cheap to sign. There isn't a low price in the world any team would like if it meant a massive distraction.
And once that realization comes over Aiyuk, he'll be filled with regret.
Follow Jose on X (Twitter) @JS3sanchezz to interact with him on the 49ers and more.
Published 20 minutes ago
JOSE SANCHEZJose Luis Sanchez III has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily for FanNation since 2019. He started off as the lead publisher for FanNation's All49ers, then switched positions to become the Deputy Editor in 2020. Sanchez writes, edits, and produces videos daily for All49ers. He also co-hosts a show on YouTube with All49ers lead publisher Grant Cohn weekly. Prior to FanNation, Sanchez started his writing career back in 2016 for the school newspaper at Skyline college where he covered all sports team in the Bay Area. Following that from 2017 to 2019, he found a role as a contributor for FanSided's news desk along with their site's Just Blog Baby covering the Las Vegas Raiders and Golden Gate Sports every professional Bay Area sports team. Atop all of that, he was able to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University in 2020. Sanchez is committed to ensuring he delivers transparent analysis and straightforward opinions that resonates with readers to get them thinking.
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4 Best Phillies Players From First Half of MLB Season
4 Best Phillies Players From First Half of MLB Season
These four Philadelphia Phillies players have stood out for their performance this season.Kenneth Teape|
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Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies have undergone a historic turnaround during the 2026 MLB regular season.
After starting 9-19 and getting manager Rob Thomson fired, the team has responded in a big way under interim manager Don Mattingly. They are the first team ever to be 10 games under .500 in April and get at least 10 games over .500 before the calendar flipped to July.
It has taken contributions from players up and down the roster to get to this point, but there are a few players who stick out even from all of the excellent production who have been consistent even during the down times.
Here are the four best Phillies players from the first half of the MLB season.
Cristopher Sanchez
There wasn’t an easier choice for this list than the Philadelphia ace. He made franchise history with his scoreless innings streak of 50.2 innings, didn't allow a single run in May, and has been consistently productive from Opening Day.
This season, Cristopher Sanchez has made 17 starts, throwing 110 innings. He has a 9-3 record with a 2.13 ERA, 209 ERA+, 2.36 FIP and 127 strikeouts. His 1.7 BB/9 is the best in the National League. A 5.2 bWAR, one complete game shutout and a 6.05 SO/BB ratio are all best in the MLB.
If Zack Wheeler hadn’t started the season on the injured list, he would be giving Sanchez a run for his money with 3.9 bWAR in his 12 starts this season.
Brandon Marsh
The Phillies' offense has not been anywhere near as consistent as people would expect given some of the names written in every day. Despite their star power, it is Brandon Marsh who has been the most consistent producer at the plate.
A change in his mental approach to the game has unlocked his true potential. He is right in the mix to start for the NL All-Star Team, and rightfully so. A slash line of .322/.354/.529 has been produced with 14 home runs, 15 doubles, two triples and 44 RBI to go along with eight stolen bases.
Producing career highs across the board could not have come at a better time.
Jhoan Duran
Acquired from the Minnesota Twins ahead of the trade deadline in 2025, expectations were high for Jhoan Duran. Philadelphia desperately needed an upgrade at the backend of their bullpen, and he has provided that.
He has been dominant with a 1.57 ERA and an NL-best 21 saves. Duran has produced 2.0 bWAR in 28.2 innings of work, racking up 44 strikeouts compared to only six walks. He has a 285 ERA+ and 1.11 FIP as one of the most elite closers in baseball.
Kyle Schwarber
When a player is chasing down history, he has to be recognized as one of the team’s best players in the first half. That is exactly what Kyle Schwarber is doing, as he leads the MLB with 30 home runs and has some franchise records in his sights.
What he is doing power-wise is in rarified air. He is knocking on the door of Babe Ruth’s record for home runs in the first five seasons with a new team. Ryan Howard’s single-season record is within reach as well.
After a painfully slow start to the season, Schwarber has found his power stroke, more than making up for leading the MLB in strikeouts.
Published 14 minutes ago
KENNETH TEAPEKenneth Teape is an alumnus of SUNY Old Westbury and graduated in 2013 with an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism. During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, such as Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students, Gotham City Sports News. Kenneth has also been a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network. He was a contributor to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. In addition to his work here, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at [email protected].
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