3. Dougie, Ferland, and Fox for Lindholm and Hanifin
This trade should be higher. I’m not sure exactly how to make it higher given the trades left to mention in this list, but at least I’m acknowledging that it should be higher.
Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to Calgary for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Adam Fox.
Aside from a few “Chad Bunchanumbers” on Twitter, this trade was widely seen as mostly fair for both sides with the teensiest bit of bias leaning in Calgary’s favor. When it became clear that neither Micheal Ferland nor Adam Fox would be extending their stay within the Carolina Hurricanes’ organization, the needle moved a bit further in Calgary’s direction.
Today, however, I would rule this trade as an absolute win for the Carolina Hurricanes, even though the only piece the Canes have retained from this trade is Dougie Hamilton.
Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin are not bad hockey players by any stretch of the phrase, but Dougie Hamilton has just purely elevated his game to a whole other level in Carolina. The man is a legitimate Norris Trophy contender, and would’ve easily been in the conversation last season had he not missed a ton of time due to a leg injury.
If the Carolina Hurricanes end up extending Dougie Hamilton after this season, and if he continues his absolute dominance in both ends of the ice, this trade will surely be cemented in the annals of Canes’ history as one of the franchise’s best.