As the Carolina Hurricanes started the 2015-2016 season off slowly, they were expected to go through another rebuilding year, grab another top-five draft pick, and hold a fire sale at the Feb. 29 deadline to continue to build for the future. That included trading longtime cornerstones, forward and team captain Eric Staal and goalie Cam Ward, along with other free agents to be forward Kris Versteeg and defenseman John-Michael Liles.

Even as far back as mid-December, when the team was just starting to rebound from its tough start, all talk seemed to be on the trade deadline. But, for the past few months, something unexpected has happened. Since the start of December, the team has been unbelievably hot, fighting its way right into the playoff race. Going into Monday’s games, the team sits four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild card spot.

This complicated things for the Canes’ trade deadline plans. When he first took over, general manager Ron Francis said he was committed to a long-term plan and building for the future. However, many have suggested he could decide to hold on to his free agents for a playoff push, continuing to rebuild the fan base’s interest in the team following a six-year playoff drought. 

This is a very divisive question among Canes fans. Should the team seek to continue its rebuild by trading away the free agents, or hold on to them to try and end its lengthy playoff drought? That is not a question easily answered, and which direction the team plans to go in is certainly unclear.

The team could continue its rebuild and sell everything not tied down at the deadline. While this would likely make continuing a playoff push very difficult, it would set the Hurricanes up very nicely for the future. The team could probably get a first or second round draft pick and a prospect for Staal, a second or third for Ward, a second for Versteeg and a second for Liles. Adding more picks and prospects to the ones Francis has already stockpiled could set the team up nicely for years to come.

Of course, since the team has multiple picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft, it could elect to hold onto its key players. Ward has played extremely well for the past few months, as he has not been in net for a regulation loss since December. 

Versteeg provides the team with veteran leadership, having won two Stanley cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, and fills the role of playmaking wing that has long been absent for this team. Liles has given the team steady play in the top four on defense and been a good mentor to the Canes’ young defensemen.

And who can forget Staal? While the Hurricanes’ captain has not been up to his usual standards in terms of scoring this year and last, he still provides leadership. On a Canes team that thrives on puck possession, Staal has some of the best advanced possession stats in the league. While his scoring could probably be replaced, trading away its captain could certainly have a negative impact on the team’s morale for any potential playoff push.

Now, holding on to his free agents does not mean Francis cannot still try to improve his team for the future. In fact, a third option, and one I would favor, is one that could help the team both now and in the future. Over Francis’ tenure, the team has stockpiled several good young defensemen. 

Helping the team now are rookies Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin, along with youngster Justin Faulk, the team’s leader on the blueline. In the pipeline, the Canes also have Ryan Murphy and Trevor Carrick with the Charlotte Checkers, and Haydn Fleury and Roland McKeown in juniors in terms of promising young defensemen. 

Francis could look to trade a couple of his surplus of defensive prospects for young forwards to improve his team in that regard. Talented young forward Jonathan Drouin of the Lightning, whose trade request has been well documented, Kerby Rychel, a young power-forward with the Columbus Blue Jackets who also reportedly requested a trade, or young center Alex Galchenyuk, who the Montreal Canadiens would reportedly consider moving, would all be good options.

Making one or multiple of these moves would not only add a young scorer for this year’s playoff push but improve the Canes’ young core for years to come.

Questions abound for the Carolina Hurricanes as the NHL’s trade deadline approaches. Does the team sell off its free agents and continue to improve for the future? Does it hold on to them for a playoff push? Or, does it go with a third option, improving for both now and the future by trading one or two of its plethora of young defensemen for young forwards? The answer is unclear, and the only certainty is that we will have our answer within the next week.