UnLikely: Carolina Hurricanes Lose The Important Trade On The Transfer….

As the trade deadline rapidly approaches, the Carolina Hurricanes have their eyes fixed on doing what’s best for the roster now without destroying the future. With most trades, you feel the excitement of what your team is getting alongside the disappointment of what your team is losing. Of course, sometimes trades are lopsided with a clear “winner.” But generally, a trade is a barter and you have to give to get. With a lot of focus on who the Hurricanes may target at the trade deadline, let’s take a look at the assets they have to give.

The Carolina Hurricanes Trade Arsenal

Finding the right trade partner is key to making any trade in the NHL. What this means is that you have to have something that team is interested in to get a player you desire. For example, do the Boston Bruins need another NHL-calibre goalie? No. Nor would a team like the Florida Panthers be very interested in picks and prospects. The good thing for the Hurricanes is that they have a variety of trade assets to move from NHL-ready players all the way down to unsigned picks and prospects.

The UFAs

The first group of Hurricanes trade assets come in the form of NHL-ready players on expiring deals after this season. This is the typical scenario for sellers at the deadline, but Carolina might entertain this as well. We previously wrote that reports indicated how talks with these UFAs had not really progressed. The names here include Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce and Teuvo Teravainen. After that tier, there are also UFAs in Stefan Noesen, Jordan Martinook, Jalen Chatfield and Tony DeAngelo.

With the exception maybe of DeAngelo, Carolina is not eager to move any of these players. But Carolina also has shown no problems in the past moving players on expiring deals. And one of these may become a trade casualty if it brings in a piece to help now and in the future. The Hurricanes won’t likely move one of these players for a true rental except maybe DeAngelo. We previously took a look at some interesting centres Carolina could target with term that might require someone like Skjei, Pesce or Teravainen going the other way here.

The Most Likely Nots

Martinook is likely not going anywhere as his value to Carolina is much higher than it is to any other team due to his connection and leadership to the team. Noesen and Chatfield are also likely not on the move. Somewhat like Martinook, they are likely not seen as having as high of value to others as what they bring to Carolina right now.

The Maybes

But the bigger names like Skjei, Pesce and Teravainen may become a piece to a bigger puzzle. Obviously, Carolina would be looking to upgrade there. Keep in mind that the acquiring team would be taking on a player with an expiring contract which hurts his value. This means it would likely take one of these players plus other pieces. But they may come into play.

The Most Likely with the Right Partner

DeAngelo is the true dangling trade asset in this group. He has been acting as the team’s seventh defenceman and hasn’t exactly blown the doors down for Carolina this year. But for a team needing an offensive defenceman that can quarterback a power play, they could take a flyer on DeAngelo. But it’s a weird spot because the acquiring team is likely looking to make a playoff push at this point if they are getting DeAngelo so the piece coming back would be interesting.

The RFAs

The next group of potential trade pieces includes Carolina’s upcoming RFAs. This group is not a “high on the likely to be traded list” but could be pieces used to acquire bigger prizes. Carolina’s RFAs after this season include Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas and Jack Drury from the NHL roster. One thing that increases an RFA’s value over a UFA is that there is still a degree of security for the acquiring team after this season. (i.e. a qualifying offer retains their rights) There are other RFAs but they will be in the prospects group below. Each of these three RFAs is in somewhat of a different grouping here.

The Most Likely Not

Seth Jarvis is the most likely not to be moved out of the three. Not only is Jarvis the youngest and the only one without arbitration rights, but he may also arguably be the most valuable to the Hurricanes all things considered. Not only is Jarvis having a breakout year statistically, but he has endless energy and plays the game in a way that fits Carolina’s style seamlessly. Whether complimenting Sebastian Aho on the top line or providing Jordan Staal‘s line with a more skillful scoring threat, Jarvis has become a key part of Carolina’s core. But if they look to acquire a major piece, Jarvis may become a casualty. Otherwise, he isn’t going anywhere.

The Maybe

Martin Necas is somewhat like Jarvis in that he is only getting moved for the right deal. But he is more likely than Jarvis due to several reasons. For one, he is older and does have arbitration rights. For another, he has been a rumoured trade piece for years now. The thing about Necas is there is no doubt as to his skill. The guy can fly on the ice, make moves to skate his way through defencemen, and find ways to put the puck in the net. In addition, he has a great shot that he utilizes on the power play.

But the struggle for Necas has somewhat been fitting into Carolina’s system as well. At times this, combined with his expiring contract status, lends to rumours of him being a big trade piece for Carolina. Again, like Jarvis, you only expect to see Necas go if a big piece is coming back as he continues to show his importance to Carolina even with some of his shortcomings.

The Most Likely…But Still Not High on the List

The final RFA, Jack Drury, is the most likely to go of the three. He may be the only RFA Carolina could move for a rental as he has the least high-end upside of the three. Drury has certainly grown this season and is currently anchoring the team’s second line while also seeing power play time. But there is definitely more of a question of if he is closer to his ceiling now. With that said, for the right player that may be an upgrade to Carolina, Drury could see himself on the move since he too has arbitration rights after this season. But him being the most likely of the three still doesn’t mean he is likely.

A Goalie

What once was a position of need might now be a position of surplus. In fact, Hurricanes General Manager Don Waddell recently stated that they may be looking at four NHL-level goalies soon with one possibly on the go. Pyotr Kochetkov has developed into an NHL starter, or at least a solid 1B option. He was the NHL’s rookie of the month in February. Frederik Andersen would likely be the starter otherwise and sounds likely to be returning very soon. These two are not likely to be on the move. This leaves Spencer Martin and Antti Raanta.

Antti Raanta

Raanta has been out with an injury lately and is a UFA after this season. He is a veteran and has been with Carolina for a few years now. As almost a father figure to many younger players in Carolina, it pulls a little on the heartstrings to entertain the idea of him leaving in a trade. But he might be one to watch. While he started the season basically at the bottom of the league in all goalie metrics, his play of late was better. However, given his age, injury history and overall statistics, Raanta alone is probably not bringing in much to Carolina.

Spencer Martin

Martin, on the other hand, has really been a solid pickup for Carolina. Arguably, he is a better number-three guy for Carolina over Raanta right now. He might not be a true starter or even a 1B option but seems to be a very good option as a true backup. Since Carolina picked him up on waivers, Martin has put together a very solid performance going 4-0-1 with .922 SV% and a 1.97 GAA. With many teams looking for some goaltending help this trade deadline, Martin might be a more attractive piece for Carolina to dangle. We previously explored the potential that Martin could become a trade piece or a solid depth piece and it is looking that way.