The calendar just turned to August. We’re still 3 months from October. Plenty of time remains for the Hurricanes to make THE summer splash move that sends ripples through the NHL. Our panel is here to weigh in on the biggest summer splash thus far out of Raleigh.
Keith Preston-Within the Hurricanes fan base, the Tony DeAngelo signing this summer has made the biggest reaction; or at least the loudest. This acquisition sent ripples all through Caniac Nation. Reactions ranging from “great, his offense will help, can’t wait to watch!” to “I’m going just to boo that man, why did we have to bring him back?” could be read. I am hoping the mood passes within our fanbase and we can unite in supporting our beloved hockey team.
Ben Huffman- Sometimes the biggest moves aren’t about the players you bring in. It might be the players you keep around that matter the most. The best player the Hurricanes signed, or re-signed, this summer was Sebastian Aho. Since breaking into the league in 2016, Aho, 26, has arguably been one of the team’s most important forward, both in the regular season and the postseason. While they did sign a few solid free agents, this was my top priority for the team going into the offseason. For eight years at $9.75 million per year, this new contract could likely make Aho a Cane for life.
Chris Baker- The Butterfly Effect Theory goes way over my head, but essentially it states that a flap of butterfly’s wing can cause Hurricanes. I don’t know if that is true, or if it is how it works. But I think the Hurricanes signing Yaniv Perets, Justin Robidas, and Bradly Nadeau are all going to make big waves in the future for the Hurricanes. Perets is NHL ready right now. Robidas has some size and I think “Texas Style” grit that Carolina needs without picking anyone up in the future. And if Nadeau is not an All-Star by his 3rd season, the All-Star system is flawed.
Time will tell if any of the big moves are the summer splash of 2023. If they are, you can bet you’ll read about here at Cardiac Cane!