With the Carolina Hurricanes only four points behind the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan division, they’ll look to bolster their roster at this year’s trade deadline after missing out last year.
Trade talks are intensifying leading up to the Friday, March 8, trade deadline. Last season, the Hurricanes didn’t make a significant splash; their bid for center Timo Meier fell short, and they settled for two rentals: defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and right wing Jesse Puljujarvi
General Manager Don Waddell and owner Tom Dundon have consistently shown they are reluctant to pay a premium price for rentals. Instead, they prefer acquiring players with multiple years on their contracts. A prime example of this approach is evident in the two trades the team made in 2020, acquiring defenseman Brady Skjei from the New York Rangers and center Vincent Trocheck from the Florida Panthers. Both Skjei and Trocheck had at least two years remaining on their contracts.
The most pressing matter the team needs to address is goaltending, a position that has been turbulent for the Canes all season. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has played only six games this season due to blood clotting issues. It remains uncertain if or when he will play another game this season.
In Andersen’s absence, the Hurricanes have relied on goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov coupled with inconsistent performances from goaltender Antii Raanta. Kochetkov has played 24 games with an 13-8-3 record, a .903 save percentage and 2.5 goals against average.
Raanta, on the other hand, has experienced a roller-coaster season, from being sent down to the AHL for a few games to showing glimpses of potential. He has played in 24 games with a 12-7-2 record, a .872 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average.
Carolina has various options when looking at the netminder market. It could seek a proven goaltender such as Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros, Calgary Flames’ Jacob Markstrom or Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Allen. Markstrom would likely fit best what Carolina is looking for and could be a real option if the price is right.
Alternatively, the Hurricanes could explore the rental market, which includes veterans like Minnesota Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury and Detroit Red Wings’ James Reimer. Of the two, Fleury is the more appealing option. As a three-time Stanley Cup champion, Fleury could serve as a mentor to Kochetkov during a playoff run. However, the Wild would most likely only consider moving Fleury if they fall out of a playoff spot before March.
The final option — and the most likely one — is that the team hangs onto the current goalies on the roster. It seems Carolina has enough confidence in Kochetkov to hold things down while Andersen gets ready to return. Goaltender Spencer Martin, who was claimed off of waivers, has only played in one game for Carolina, but he looked impressive in his one outing. Martin is currently the team’s backup to Kochetkov.
Another position the team could look to improve heading into the playoffs is at center. The team currently lacks a solid number-two center with Jesperi Kotkaniemi having a troubling season.
The current center market is relatively scarce, with two of the top centers on the market, Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan, already secured by other teams.
The next viable center on the trade board is Anaheim Ducks’ center Adam Henrique. A versatile forward, Henrique can produce points, kill penalties and win faceoffs. The 34-year-old has registered 15 goals and 20 assists in 50 games, along with a 53.6 faceoff win percentage this season. Another appealing attribute is that Henrique also possesses the versatility to play on the wing. Acquiring him would likely require the Hurricanes to part with a first-round draft pick and a solid prospect.
However, securing a second-line center might stretch the team’s budget, prompting it to consider adding scoring depth on the wing instead. Notable names in this regard include San Jose Sharks’ left wing Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators’ right wing Vladimir Tarasenko and Pittsburgh Penguins’ left wing Jake Guentzel.
Duclair, providing speed, scoring and playoff experience, wouldn’t impose a significant cost on the team. While his numbers this season might not be stellar, they are affected by playing on a bottom-tier Sharks team.
Tarasenko, a goal scorer, is no stranger to the Canes’ front office. The 32-year-old Russian holds a no-trade clause that could be lifted for a move to a Cup contender, potentially costing Carolina a second-round draft pick.
Guentzel, though a bit of a stretch, has gained attention in recent league buzz. The 29-year-old left wing boasts 22 goals and 29 assists in 49 games played. While he might be costly for the Hurricanes, Carolina may explore the possibility, given its reputation for being linked to big-name players.
A player the Hurricanes could look to trade is defenseman Tony DeAngelo. The New Jersey native has appeared in two games in February, logging over 13 minutes of ice time in each outing, thus demonstrating his capability as a dependable third-pairing defenseman. Teams seeking a power-play quarterback or a third-pairing defenseman may find DeAngelo’s skills appealing for their roster.
The upcoming weeks will determine the Hurricanes’ approach at the deadline and most importantly in the net. Acquiring a second-line center could propel Carolina to another level heading into the playoffs, while additional depth in goal-scoring could address a persistent issue that has impeded its Stanley Cup runs in previous years.
Although the Canes have traditionally been conservative at the trade deadline, it might be time for them to place all their chips into the middle of the table, recognizing that the window with their core is only open for a limited time.
