Who’s the odd-man-out if the Carolina Hurricanes add another forward?

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Eetu Luostarinen

3GP; 0G; 1A; 0 PIM

Yes, Luostarinen has looked impressive in his young career and I hope his NHL future is as bright as the flash of the Tsar Bomba.  The catch is how quickly his offensive game comes along.  He does possess offensive talent but has made his mark more in the role of a two-way forward.  That begs the question of what his ceiling in the NHL is.

Perhaps he’ll become a consistent 15-20 goal, 40 point player, though that is unlikely to happen immediately.  He’s also not expected to step right in and produce those numbers, and that is precisely why he could find himself back in Charlotte should the Hurricanes bring in another forward.  That’s not a knock on him as a player, it’s an observation on what this team needs.

Warren Foegele

20GP; 3G; 5A; 10 PIM

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Foegele’s play has picked up considerably recently, making me less keen on shipping him out.  The 23-year-old has displayed more of the tenacity that came to the forefront in last spring’s playoffs, whether on the forecheck on generating offense.  Despite his inconsistent offense, Foegele is a very versatile player who fits well into Brind’Amour’s system.

Okay, Jeb, why is he on this list?  I’m glad you asked, hypothetical reader with a great question.  Quite simply, it comes down to numbers.  Depending on who the Hurricanes trade and acquire, it may be necessary to free up cap space.  Foegele’s cap hit isn’t particularly substantial but could be helpful in getting a deal done.  All things considered, it’s much more likely that Luostarinen heads back to Charlotte than Foegele being traded.

Brock McGinn

20GP; 2G; 3A; 11PIM

Unlike goalposts, I’m a fan of Brock McGinn.  He’s a gritty player with the talent to put up 10-15 goals.  His production has been a little slow so far this year, though he has continued to help out in any way that he can.  Case in point: his scrap with Bobby Ryan after the Ottawa winger leveled Brian Gibbons with a hit on November 11.

Call him a heart and soul guy.  Call him a glue guy.  Regardless of your adage of choice, McGinn brings effort to every shift.  No, he won’t put a team over the top but he’s the type of player that every team loves to have.  The biggest issue working against McGinn is his contract; no, it’s not bad, but his cap hit is significantly higher than Foegele’s and could prove necessary to move to balance salary.

With the expectations on the Hurricanes this year, I don’t see them standing pat, especially if Haula’s injury becomes a long-term issue.  Then again, there are guys who get paid the big bucks to make those decisions and, more often than not, they’ve made the right choices.  Time will tell what happens for the 2019-20 Carolina Hurricanes.

Do you think the Hurricanes swing a trade for another forward?  If so, who would you like to see them target?  Who goes the other way?