Carolina Hurricanes: Exploring a Few Potential Trade Options This Off-Season

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 15: Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes is congratulated by his teammate, Vincent Trocheck #16 after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 15, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 15: Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes is congratulated by his teammate, Vincent Trocheck #16 after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 15, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 15: Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes is congratulated by his teammate, Vincent Trocheck #16 after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 15, 2020, in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 15: Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes is congratulated by his teammate, Vincent Trocheck #16 after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 15, 2020, in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Carolina Hurricanes still have moves they can make in the offseason.

The Carolina Hurricanes desperately need a top 6 winger, and with moves already starting to get underway, who could the Canes acquire to address their needs?

Yeah, I’ve been doing a lot of these. Even so, I enjoy exploring the trade rumors and then getting yelled at for suggesting the idea. It’s a very love-hate relationship here. However, I enjoy it so thank you for coming back to yell at me… I think? I don’t know, so let’s dive into the Hurricanes related thing yo*/*u’ve all come here for!

Silly season has begun. With Montreal already making trades with St Louis, and Toronto sending wingers out to Pittsburgh, and rumors being thrown from every corner of the league about almost everyone. So, let’s take a little look at some of the forwards who are being linked with an exit from their current clubs and see if the Hurricanes can find themselves an improvement in theory.

Now, I’m not going to cherry-pick players from the league as a whole. I will be using a combination of TSN’s trade bait board and Sportsnet’s 25 trade candidates to address those that are truthfully available. Now, of the 45 total names on each list, I have done previous articles referring to a few of them, and they will not be included. If you wish to see someone like that, feel free to search the site.

There is also one player I plan to do a completely separate piece on. But you will have to find out who that is when it’s done. Referring to the players in this article, I will not be addressing anyone who is a pending unrestricted free agent. That means no Mikael Granlund. Everyone here will be under contract for next year or a restricted free agent.

Before I can dive into the potential additions, someone would need to come out of the top 6, and I don’t think there’s any hiding that it’s Nino Niederreiter. El Nino didn’t exactly reach the heights he set for himself when he was acquired from the Minnesota Wild last January. However, seeing that changing locations often puts a spark into the game of the Swiss winger, he may yet still be a desirable piece in a deal to acquire a better player.

Nino did record 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 68 games this year. It’s not a horrible title for a player of Nino’s caliber, but it’s not the 57 point pace when he first joined the Canes last year. So using the idea that what players are around who would improve the scoring output in that 2nd line winger spot for the Carolina Hurricanes heading into next season? Let’s get looking then, shall we?