Canes Make Rare Post-Deadline Trade, Acquire Reunanen From Rangers

In a very rare occurrence, the Carolina Hurricanes have made a trade after the NHL trade deadline. The Hurricanes acquired defenseman Tarmo Reunanen from the New York Rangers in exchange for Maxim Letunov.

Tarmo Reunanen is a left-handed defenseman who was selected in the fourth round, 98th overall, in the 2016 entry draft by the New York Rangers. The Finnish defenseman is exactly six feet tall and weighs in at 185 pounds. He has played 40 games for the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate the Hartford Wolfpack this season and recorded 17 points.

Maxim Letunov was a free agent signed by the Hurricanes over the summer, and Maxim has played exclusively for Carolina’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. So far this season the Russian forward has recorded 23 points in 60 games with the Wolves this season.

Most fans don’t even know that trades could be made after the March 21st deadline, but they can, with the condition that none of the players traded can play for the NHL clubs for the remainder of the season or during the playoffs.

March 28th is the AHL trade deadline, so think of this as a trade between the Hartford Wolfpack and the Chicago Wolves rather than a trade between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes. It just so happens that both players are technically on NHL deals.

Tarmo Reunanen is only 24 years old and is in the last year of his entry-level contract. The contract has a cap hit of $809,167 and expires this season. Upon expiry, Reunanen will become a restricted free agent, and as an RFA he is arbitration-eligible according to CapFriendly.

Maxim Letunov is on a two-way contract that the 26-year-old signed last summer. The deal pays him $700 thousand at the NHL level and $140 thousand at the AHL level.

Both players in the trade are AHL regulars and have seen very little NHL action. Reunanen played 4 games for the Rangers last season and recorded 1 assist. Letunov played 3 games for the San Jose Sharks during the 2019-20 season and scored his first NHL goal.

This move comes as the Chicago Wolves gear up for a potential Calder Cup run. The Wolves are currently second in the league standings and have a very good chance at winning it all with their veteran-heavy lineup.