The Carolina Hurricanes are locking in a key depth piece as they continue their dominant playoff run. The team announced Monday that they have signed forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year contract extension, carrying an average annual value of $1.85 million through the 2027-28 season.

This deal comes at an exciting time for the organization. Just two days before the announcement, the Hurricanes made NHL history by becoming the first team since 1987 to sweep through the first two rounds of the playoffs, winning all eight games against Ottawa and Philadelphia. Now, they await the winner of the Montreal-Buffalo series in the Eastern Conference final—marking their third conference finals appearance in just four seasons.

General Manager Eric Tulsky praised Jankowski's impact, stating, "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."

At 31 years old, Jankowski has carved out a reliable role on Carolina's fourth line. While he has tallied one assist in eight playoff games this postseason, he's also been at the center of some dramatic moments—having two goals waved off on video review. First, an apparent overtime winner in Game 2 against Ottawa was overturned due to an offsides call, and then a potential goal in Saturday's series-clinching Game 4 against Philadelphia was disallowed for goaltender interference on teammate William Carrier.

During the regular season, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward posted solid numbers with 11 goals and 10 assists in 68 games. The Hurricanes originally acquired Jankowski in a March 2025 trade with the Nashville Predators, and he has quickly become a trusted piece of their postseason puzzle.

As the Hurricanes gear up for another shot at the Stanley Cup, keeping a versatile, hard-working forward like Jankowski in the fold ensures they maintain the depth that has made them such a formidable force in the Eastern Conference.