If you chose not to go on social media on Tuesday afternoon, you missed quite a bit around the league. Three more big trades dropped after this weekend's blockbuster involving Brady Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers. Two of the moves made on Tuesday had division implications, though, as we've already said, every big trade in the East impacts the Carolina Hurricanes in some way.
The "smallest" trade of the day ended a long-standing issue between Simon Nemec and the New Jersey Devils. Nemec was moved to the Calgary Flames, along with Maxim Tsyplakov, for Top 10 protected first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a second-round pick this year, and Etienne Morin. While it weakens the Devils' defense, it gives Nemec the fresh start that he's been looking for.
About 90 minutes later, news of another move was announced, with the Ottawa Senators continuing to shake things up. William Eklund and two prospects were making their way to Canada's capital for the 9th overall pick, which was part of the return for Tkachuk on Sunday. The Senators were expected to remain aggressive with their draft capital, bringing in another big playmaker.
We'd barely caught our collective breath from that move when the Washington Capitals joined the fun. They made a deal with the St. Louis Blues for Jordan Kyrou, sending Connor McMichael, 2025 second-round pick Milton Gastrin, and the 16th pick on Friday night. Kyrou was a big name to watch at the trade deadline before St. Louis held onto him. Now, he's heading to Washington, D.C.
What does all of this mean for the Carolina Hurricanes?
While the Hurricanes weren't directly involved with any of the moves made on Tuesday, they are affected in so many different ways, especially since two of the three involved division opponents making sizable moves for their collective teams, and the third was made by a team they faced in the playoffs this season.
The trade with the most to unpack is the Kyrou trade to the Capitals. Jordan Kyrou is coming off a down year, scoring 18 goals and 46 points in 72 games. However, he was usually a 30-goal, 70-point threat with the Blues. While he's only been facing the Canes twice a year since joining the league, Kyrou has only had six points in 11 career meetings.
Going the other way, McMichael took a step back last season as well after breaking out for 26 goals and 57 points in 2024-25. Still, he's three years younger than Kyrou and will likely make much less than him, though he needs a new contract as an RFA. The Capitals certainly got better in the short term, making them a greater threat to return to the playoffs after missing them last season.
By comparison, the other two moves don't feel nearly as big. William Eklund is more of a finesse player than Brady Tkachuk, and he's significantly less physical. Eklund is a pass-first player, though he's very creative in that way. New Jersey losing Simon Nemec gives Jonathan Kovacevic a chance to play more. Plus, it gives New Jersey a little more draft capital to play with and trade.
This sudden burst of trade movement could also spring the Hurricanes into action a little quicker than they originally intended. With names flying off the shelf, the Canes might need to expedite their negotiations before someone else swoops in. I have no idea who they would be looking at right now, nor do I think they need to be hasty with their decisions, but this feels like just the beginning.
With the draft approaching, there is sure to be even more movement in the lead-up to Friday's opening round. Several big names linger out there, and the Canes are guaranteed to be sniffing around to see who is available. They won't be forced into making a move for the sake of doing so, but the rest of the league is starting to awaken.
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