The Carolina Hurricanes have continued to sell ahead of tomorrow’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. After dealing defenseman Ron Hainsey to the Pittsburgh Penguins last week, the Canes made another deal today, sending forward Viktor Stalberg to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2017 third-round draft pick, general manager Ron Francis announced today.

Stalberg, who signed a one-year deal with the Canes as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2016, played in 57 games with Carolina this year, providing some useful depth scoring with nine goals and 12 points. He also logged big minutes on the team’s league-best penalty kill, sitting fourth among Canes forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game. All of these attributes Stalberg provides, along with his 43 career playoff games, including a Stanley Cup win with Chicago in 2013, made him an attractive target for a likely playoff team in Ottawa.

Francis continues to stick to his mantra of building the Hurricanes for the long haul, selling off another expiring contract in Stalberg for a useful asset. The Canes now hold 11 picks in the 2017 draft, including seven in the first three rounds, with three picks apiece in the second and third rounds.