Trade Sebastian Aho; And Get What?

CALGARY, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes prepares for a face-off during the game against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 22, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta Canada. (Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images)
CALGARY, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes prepares for a face-off during the game against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 22, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta Canada. (Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images) /
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Sure, the Carolina Hurricanes could trade Sebastian Aho. If the Canes were to move Aho, I have some serious questions.

Some will say trading Aho would free up some salary cap space for the return of injured Max Pacioretty and Freddie Andersen. That is a lingering and legitimate concern.

But that makes zero sense since those returns are at least a month away. Plus, both will take time to get back to the blistering pace the team is, hopefully, still at the time of their returns.

A wise philosopher once said, “A bird in the hand, is better than two in the bush.” Whoever that was, was surely a Canes fan.

Any trade Sebastian Aho is involved in would likely have to include another player from the Canes to guarantee the player received will produce more than Aho. No player in the NHL is producing what Aho produces on the market so the Hurricanes would have to sweeten the pot.

So who is Carolina willing to give up?

It’s been shown the Canes are as good without Aho as a with him in the lineup. A trade would be breaking up a very hot team.

That leaves the very valid question, what could the Carolina Hurricanes get in return that they do not already have in Sebastian Aho? Or currently available in Chicago for reassignment.

Another goalie? No.

More offense? The Canes scored 6 on Thursday. Do we need that much more?

Better special teams? Maybe, but the Jordan Line has been taking better care of the power plays, and power play kills have improved.

Defense? Perhaps, but with the exception of the Philadelphia game, Carolina has played pretty solid defense.

If your original point was that the team was already good without Sebastian Aho, then whatever comes to Carolina is already here.

Maybe all the trade Sebastian Aho talk was more tongue and check. But if it was not, then let me again put a stop to all of it. There is nothing the Carolina Hurricanes could get that they do not already have, without giving up more than just Sebastian Aho.