The Carolina Hurricanes Won the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline
2. Vatanen to Carolina
Sami Vatanen has been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes for several months now as a candidate to stand in for the injured Dougie Hamilton.
Vatanen himself is injured, but Don Waddell expects him to be back in early March or so.
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This trade is a bit more of a value trade for the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes sent prospect F Janne Kuokkanen and a 2020 conditional 4th round pick to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Sami Vatanen. The Devils retained 50% of Vatanen’s expiring contract as well.
The conditions on the 4th round pick are as follows: New Jersey receives a 2020 4th round pick if Vatanen plays in 5 regular-season games this season. The pick upgrades to a 2020 3rd round pick if Vatanen plays in 12 regular-season games this season, or if Carolina makes the playoffs and he plays in 70% of their playoff games.
This trade is easily a win for the Carolina Hurricanes as well. Kuokkanen has also had his NHL future with the Carolina Hurricanes in question, and was also a Ron Francis-era pick that Don Waddell and Tom Dundon seem adamant on clearing out. The pick is also a relatively negligible one, so this one is a bit more clear-cut in determining ‘who won’.
Now, for the final and most unexpected of trades the Carolina Hurricanes made on deadline day: the acquisition of Brady Skjei.