Hurricanes Miss Out on Scoring Upgrade as Timo Meier Traded to Devils
The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Carolina Hurricanes are in a prime position to make some moves to upgrade their roster. With a solid record so far this season, the Hurricanes are sitting in First place in the Metro Division.
However, they missed out on a potential scoring upgrade over the weekend as Timo Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils.
With Meier now off the table, the Hurricanes will need to look elsewhere for potential trade targets and fast! Here are four players that have been rumored as potential targets for the Hurricanes to improve their team:
JT Miller
The Hurricanes could consider pursuing Vancouver Canucks forward JT Miller. The 28-year-old has been having a strong season for the Canucks, with 20 goals and 34 assists in 59 games. He could provide a boost to the Hurricanes’ offense, which has been solid but could use some additional scoring punch. Miller has five more years left on his contract after this season, so he would be a long-term addition to the team.
Jakob Chychrun
Another potential trade target for the Hurricanes is Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The 23-year-old blueliner has emerged as one of the Coyotes’ top players this season, with 7 goals and 21 assists in 36 games. He would provide some much-needed offensive production from the Hurricanes’ defense corps. Chychrun is signed through the 2024-25 season, so he would be a long-term addition to the team as well.
Vladislav Gavrikov
If the Hurricanes are looking for a defensive upgrade that won’t cost as much as Chychrun, they could consider Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. The 25-year-old Russian has been a steady presence on the Blue Jackets’ blueline this season, with 3 goals and 7 assists in 52 games. He would provide some stability and physicality to the Hurricanes’ defense corps. Gavrikov is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and could be re-signed if things work out.
Nick Schmaltz
The Hurricanes could also consider Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz as a potential trade target. The 25-year-old has had an up-and-down season for the Coyotes, with 17 goals and 22 assists in 43 games. However, he has shown flashes of offensive talent in the past and could provide some depth scoring for the Hurricanes. Schmaltz is signed through the 2025-26 season, so he would be a long-term addition to the team.
Brock Boeser
The Hurricanes could also look to add Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser to their lineup. The 24-year-old has been having a strong season for the Canucks, with 11 goals and 27 assists in 51 games. He would provide a significant boost to the Hurricanes’ offense and has shown in the past that he can be a dynamic scoring threat. Boeser is signed through the 2024-25 season, so he would be a medium-term addition to the team.
While the Hurricanes missed out on the opportunity to add Timo Meier to their roster, there are still several potential trade targets they could pursue to upgrade their