Carolina Hurricanes: The Trevor van Riemsdyk Situation

The Carolina Hurricanes have depth at numerous positions now. Unfortunately, that means that players will eventually have to be moved. We take a look at why the Hurricanes might have to move on from Trevor van Riemsdyk.

The Carolina Hurricanes have put themselves in a good position. Whether it was drafting well or trading for quality prospects the Hurricanes have been able to make moves to increase their depth. That is especially true at defense.

Trevor van Riemsdyk has himself in a bad situation. The Hurricanes have many NHL-ready defensemen in the minors that will eventually crack the lineup. And while these players will be playing, van Riemsdyk is sitting out as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

Let’s look at the players that can have potential to surpass van Riemsdyk.

First, we have Haydn Fleury, who is the Hurricanes sixth defenseman to start the season. Fleury now has the opportunity to prove himself as worthy in the NHL. If he can find his offensive game and break through with his first goal, then the rest of his game should be able to fall in place.

He hasn’t been bad defensively, but he has been inconsistent, so if he cleans things up, such as positioning and skating, then he will be the defenseman he was thought to be when he was drafted.

Next, is Jake Bean who has a far superior offensive game to van Riemsdyk and Fleury. He tallied 13 goals and 31 assists in 70 games for the Charlotte Checkers last season. But we know that Bean is great offensively, but what about his defense?

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Bean is a very effective skater and can get into position even if he seems out of it. Also, Bean has a very active stick, much like Slavin, nut not to that extent. That helps disrupt passing lanes. He is an all-around defenseman that just needs more of an opportunity at the NHL level as he has only played in two games.

Another defenseman is Gustav Forsling, who the Carolina Hurricanes obtained with Anton Forsberg from the Chicago Blackhawks. Forsling is one of the more NHL-experienced defensemen who is starting down in Charlotte. He has played in 122 games, tallying eight goals and 19 assists. He was a highly thought of prospect out of Sweden and has another opportunity with a new team to prove himself.

Just mentioning Fleury, Bean, and Forsling as the potential defenseman that could push van Riemsdyk out is wrong. The Hurricanes have plenty more defenseman that will eventually be able to push for a spot.

That includes Roland McKeown, Chase Priskie, Fredrik Claesson, and Alex Lintuniemi. The Hurricanes are really loaded at this position, which puts van Riemsdyk’s chances of staying on the Hurricanes in jeopardy.

This has nothing to do with van Riemsdyk as a player at all. Injuries are an unfortunate thing in sports, but they do happen. In some cases, players have the opportunity to just go right back into their role when they are fully healthy. But with the Hurricanes insane depth at the position, van Riemsdyk may not get that chance.

The Carolina Hurricanes could give him a shot when he is fully healthy. There is always that possibility. But if one of these players breaks through as a solid third-line defenseman, the Hurricanes will be able to trade him to a team that needs help defensively.

Question for CC Readers: Do you think the Carolina Hurricanes will be put in a position where they have to move Trevor van Riemsdyk?