Logan Stankoven appeared to be at ease in his parents’ backyard, his Carolina Hurricanes’ hockey gear seen hanging through an upstairs window while he stood in for a table-tennis tilt and poolside interview.

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound forward from Kamloops — at home for an off-season break — has every reason to be relaxed, including a recent vacation to Aruba that followed an impressive playoff run to the Eastern Conference final.

In fact, there are potentially 60-million reasons for the former Kamloops Blazers’ captain to breathe easy.

Veteran NHL scout and Sportsnet writer Jason Bukala recently suggested Stankoven is worth about U.S. $7.5 million per season and the ‘Canes may consider signing him to an eight-year contract.

“It’ll be interesting to see what they want, but personally I’d love to be there for a long time,” said Stankoven, who was traded to Carolina from the Dallas Stars in March at the NHL trade deadline. “I’m happy with the organization and the people that are there. It’s a great group and a spot that I would like to be. We have some time and there’s not really any rush right now, but yeah, speaking to the contract talks, I’d like it to be long-term.”

Stankoven tallied 14 goals (including six game-winners) and 38 points in 78 regular-season games in 2024-2025 and was a key contributor in the post-season, adding five goals and eight points in 15 playoff contests.

He has one year remaining on his entry-level deal (with a salary cap hit of $814,167 next season) and has the option to hold off on signing an extension, giving him the opportunity to boost his stock with another successful campaign. 

“I think it depends on what their offer is,” Stankoven said when asked for thoughts on signing an extension this summer. “I have full confidence in myself that I have another level to get to. It’s not a rush to get a deal done. I’m still proving myself. I’m only 22, so I’m going to keep being in the gym and on the ice during the summers to improve and, hopefully, put up better numbers.”

The Hurricanes’ run at the Stanley Cup was foiled by the eventual champions, the Florida Panthers, who ousted Carolina in five games in the Eastern Conference final.

“We did run into a very hot team, but when you look at the way Florida is structured, they have guys that are physical and can put the puck in the net and they have great goaltending, and they kind of tried to intimidate us a bit, at times,” Stankoven said.

“We didn’t really have an answer for that sometimes. Maybe that’s something we can improve upon going into next year.”

Stankoven said vanquishing Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in five games in Round 2 of the playoffs was the highlight of the season from a team perspective.

Individually, tallying two goals in the first game of the playoffs in a 4-1 victory over New Jersey was his favourite moment.

“That gave me a lot more confidence throughout the rest of the playoffs,” Stankoven said, noting his thanks to Kamloops hockey fans for their support. “I was able to beat a few goalies clean and that’s some of the stuff that I did in juniors. In Dallas, it was more just like getting to the net and then trying to find gritty goals. I’ve been able to kind of dial in my shot and get used to the time and space out there.”

Stankoven said he wants to feel like he did during the playoffs more often next season, noting the next step for his development is to be more consistent.

“I definitely want to put more pucks in the net,” he said when asked about goals for the 2025-2026 campaign. “Team-wise, it’s Stanley Cup. Other than that, maybe take on a bit more of a role, maybe penalty kill. I’ve been playing some power play, so maybe show the coach [Rod Brind’Amour] that he can put me out there a bit more.”

Stankoven was free to sign a contract extension as of July 1, which landed after the Chronicle’s publication deadline.

If he inks a deal, perhaps next summer’s post-season interview will take place beside another body of water, with Stankoven confirming his interest in purchasing lakeside property.

“I love being on the water during the summer, so yeah, definitely a lake house somewhere,” he said “Not sure where yet, but I’d really like to stay in B.C., even Kalamalka Lake. That would be a dream spot, but we’ll see how things go. Hopefully, sign a deal here and then go from there.”