Carolina Hurricanes: The case for acquiring Marcus Johansson

As the Carolina Hurricanes approach the NHL trade deadline, we’re taking a look at ways the team could improve their roster. Today, we make the case for acquiring New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson.

So far this week we’ve made the case for the Carolina Hurricanes being neither buyers nor sellers ahead of the NHL trade deadline, and looked at what the team might need to make a deep playoff run. But which players could the Canes acquire to help improve their secondary scoring? Today, we make the case for the Canes acquiring Marcus Johansson from the New Jersey Devils, who cannot stop scoring at the moment.

In an unexpected twist, Cardiac Cane was approached by our fellow FanSided site, Pucks and Pitchforks, to discuss potential deals between our two teams that could help both teams achieve their aims. With this in mind, I considered the options on the table from the Devils and saw that Marcus Johansson has come to life in recent weeks. And thus, a deal was born.

Why acquire Marcus Johansson?

Marcus Johansson knows how to put the puck away. He’s not particularly fit with the Devils since moving from the Capitals, but recently he’s been on absolute fire. There are very few players on the trade market who are in as good form as Johansson is for the Devils. He’s also an impending UFA, on a bloated contract, and so with the right fit, opportunity and success, he’d be a prime candidate for an extension to give the Carolina Hurricanes the second line center they so desperately need. He can also play left wing, giving the Canes some flexibility.

Johansson was limited to just 29 games in his first season with the Devils, posting 5-9-14. This season began badly, but he’s been on a tear recently and is already up to 12-15-27 in 48 GP this season thanks to 12 points in his last 13 games. He’s currently producing at the same level as Nino Niederreiter has since he joined the Canes – who wouldn’t want to add another Nino?

With a career high in 2016/17 of 24 goals and 34 assists, Johansson has the potential to be a big contributor for the remainder of the season – and if he could be convinced to sign an extension, he could be a good value top six forward for the next several years.

What about the cost?

My colleague Nick Villano at Pucks and Pitchforks felt that a combination of pick plus prospect would be enough to convince the Devils to move Johansson. Having ruled out the likes of Necas, Kuokkanen, Bean and Nedeljkovic from a Canes perspective, the Devils’ interest came down to power forward prospect Julien Gauthier.

The inside scouting report on Johansson was that he suffered by playing alongside Pavel Zacha to begin the season, but has scoring potential. From our perspective, I highlighted Gauthier’s potential as a hulking winger with a scoring touch who is slowly but surely improving in Charlotte.

The final deal we agreed was the Canes acquiring Marcus Johansson from the Devils in exchange for Julien Gauthier plus a 2019 CAR 4th round pick. For the opportunity to acquire a bonafide scorer like Johansson, I considered this a no-brainer, despite Gauthier’s potential.

Marcus Johansson is a much cheaper version of Matt Duchene. He won’t bring the same level of scoring, but would give us another top six scoring forward who could help shake up the team’s lethargic power play. At this stage, adding any forward capable of improving the team’s options at 2C is something Don Waddell should strongly consider – Johansson could well be the answer.