Trade-deadline primer: Carolina Hurricanes

Although we’re not even two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over a month away. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Florida. Boston. Carolina. Those are the only three teams in the entire NHL who are currently in a playoff spot and also have more than $2 million in projected year-end cap space. In a buyer’s market, the Hurricanes are one of an elite trio that has the means to make a major splash. Additionally, sharing a division with one of the others – the Panthers – as well as the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Western Conference champion Dallas Stars, gives Carolina even more motivation to load up before the trade deadline. A top-three team in points percentage, goals for per game and power-play efficiency and a top-10 team in goals against per game and penalty-kill efficiency, the Hurricanes are truly elite this season and don’t have many holes. Yet, when you’re this close to a title and are one of the few teams that can do serious damage on the trade market, you pull the trigger.

Record

18-6-1, .740, 2nd in Central Division

Deadline status

Buyer

Deadline cap space

$2.608 million in full-season space ($11.635 million at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Only includes 21 players. Frequent recalls Jake Bean, Morgan Geekie, Alex Nedeljkovic currently on taxi squad.

Upcoming draft picks

2021: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th, LAK 7th, STL 7th
2022: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th, CLB 7th

Trade chips

Most years, having one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL has no downside. In an Expansion Draft year, however, it’s problematic. Even with star defenseman Dougie Hamilton slated for free agency and not requiring expansion protection (unless he’s re-signed early), the Hurricanes still face a conundrum. Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, Jake Gardiner, Haydn Fleury and RFA Jake Bean are all eligible to be selected by the Seattle Kraken and, due to a number of valuable forwards as well, Carolina can protect only three. Career ’Canes Slavin and Pesce seem like a lock, while veterans Skjei and Gardiner appear unlikely to be protected. Between their two young rearguards, Bean has shown much more upside this season than Fleury and is the more likely to be protected. Yet, that’s not to say that Fleury does not still have value around the league. At full strength, the Hurricanes have seven legitimate defensemen; while depth is important in the playoffs, could the Hurricanes consider moving one of the aforementioned before the deadline rather than losing them in expansion? With a more affordable contract and less experience compared to a Skjei or Gardiner, Fleury could be made available in a trade, especially if the Hurricanes are able to add a veteran rental defender as part of the return package. With term and even further team control remaining, Fleury, 24, could command a nice market if the Hurricanes make him available, although his complete lack of offense this season does raise some concern.

Outside of Fleury, the ’Canes seem unlikely to move anyone off their NHL roster. But does that include Morgan Geekie? He has played in nine games for Carolina this season, but due in part to poor play but mostly to his contract flexibility and a lack of a concrete role at the top level, Geekie has spent time on the taxi squad and in the AHL this season. The talented 22-year-old is still young and could find a full-time spot in Raleigh in the next year or two. However, if the right deal rolls around, Carolina could give up a future piece for help in the present. There are other impressive young forwards pushing to take his “next man up” title anyhow.

The same logic could apply to Alex Nedeljkovic. The young goaltender, who in retrospect should not have cleared waivers earlier this season, has performed very well this season, outplaying veteran James Reimer with starter Petr Mrazek sidelined. However, the Hurricanes have previously refrained from handing Nedeljkovic an NHL job even when a spot was available. Even with Mrazek and Reimer headed for free agency and Nedeljkovic able to be protected in expansion, if the Hurricanes don’t believe that he will be part of their NHL tandem next season, they could move him to acquire a goaltender that will be.

Others to Watch For: F David Cotton ($859,000, RFA 2022), D Joey Keane ($859,000, RFA 2022), G Jack LaFontaine (Draft Rights)

Team needs

1) Starting Goaltender – When he was healthy earlier this season, Mrazek was phenomenal. He posted a stunning .955 save percentage and 0.99 GAA in his first four games. Then he got hurt and he hasn’t been seen yet. If the Hurricanes had a healthy, confident Mrazek ready to go at the deadline, perhaps they would stand pat in goal. At this point, that seems unlikely to occur. With Mrazek’s health as an unknown, Reimer playing just okay and Nedeljkovic playing well but lacking NHL experience nevertheless playoff experience, some peace of mind in goal is the top priority for the ’Canes. Carolina could target a rental, but the pickings are slim. Jonathan Bernier and Antti Raanta could provide some stability, but they might not be enough of an upgrade, and Linus Ullmark carries the same injury concerns as Mrazek. The bolder move, especially with contracts expiring for their current trio of keepers, would be to add a goalie with term. John Gibson and Darcy Kuemper are the biggest names on the rumor mill, but the Hurricanes could also try to break up the Rangers’ or Blue Jackets’ young tandems or target a dark horse name such as Tristan Jarry or Thatcher Demko. A long-term starter would be a major addition for Carolina and make sense before the deadline, even if such moves usually take place in the offseason.

2) Top-Nine Forward – What the Hurricanes actually lack are reliable depth options up front beyond their starting 12 or 13 forwards. However, when you have cap space and no one else does, you don’t aim to add depth, you aim to add players who push your players into depth roles. Even with solid starting depth and Teuvo Teravainen coming back from injury, Carolina could still stand to add another established top-nine forward that could push the likes of Jesper Fast or Warren Foegele for their spot who would in turn bump fourth liners like Cedric Paquette and Steven Lorentz to either play better or take a seat. Battles for playing time and improved depth are hallmarks of a true contender.

3) Even if the Hurricanes don’t move Fleury or another NHL defenseman at the deadline, they could still stand to add another body. As it stands now, Carolina is without Gardiner due to injury and is just one more blue-line injury away from Joakim Ryan becoming a starter. Behind him, you have veteran AHLer David Warsofsky, newcomer Maxime Lajoie and the untested Keane. It’s not the worst depth, but it also doesn’t scream fool-proof. With the means to load up, the Hurricanes might as well add an experienced rental No. 8 defenseman who is a more reliable option to step in the case of injury or poor play than is Ryan or anyone on the Chicago Wolves.