Canes Need to Clear Cap Space First
By Glenn Brewer
The NHL trade deadline is just a day away and the trades are already starting to drop. The Carolina Hurricanes remain in the hunt for some of the top names available on the market. With limited salary cap space, some work will need to be done. Currently, the Canes have $1,285,635 in open cap space.
This is not to say that general manager, Don Waddell cannot make minor moves at the deadline but it appears that Waddell has been big game hunting for quite some time. So far he has swung and missed on some targets like Elias Lindholm, who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. The craziness of the trade deadline has rumors that Vancouver may move Lindholm again after only having him for a matter of weeks.
The team is strong and deep right now but each year, including this one, you can see that the top teams are finding a way to add to their team. The Metro Division has and will be active at the trade deadline, with the New York Rangers already adding Alex Wennberg from Seattle.
The Canes have proven that they are close enough to win the Stanley Cup and for that, Waddell seems to be looking for not just a little piece to add but a major piece. The energy and focus around the team after a big acquisition would create a buzz in the locker room and around Raleigh.
The big players being spoken about are Jake Guentzel, Tyler Toffoli, Frank Vatrano, and more. Any one of these players would add the scoring punch the Canes desperately need to get to the next level. The Canes have not traded away many of their top draft picks recently and are fully loaded
Good players will have high salaries that cannot fit in right now. A player on the current roster will likely be moved before a legitimate name is added to this roster. In one sense you do not need to refresh X (twitter) because the first trade shipping guys out will need to be made first.
Ideally, the trading partner will have room to take on the Carolina player that has a salary but it appears that third teams are jumping in on transactions just to grab a pick or salary space. It is an exciting time for this franchise but it is time for Waddell to show his experience and bring in an upgrade before the weekend.