The Florida Panthers are just two wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup. This means the Carolina Hurricanes and the rest of the NHL are that much closer to the offseason chaos. A busy summer is expected for the Canes and that is because of 13 players in need of new contracts from the organization.
The younger players who are restricted free agents will be run through the trade rumor mill until the pen is printed on new contracts. Martin Necas has already been the talk of the NHL trade rumors and rightfully so.
Will Raleigh be receiving more calls than normal from Columbus?
Recent general manager Don Waddell has now taken the reigns of the Columbus Blue Jackets and will be busy putting his stamp on that roster this summer. Leaving so many of his players in Carolina without contracts must entice him to take a run at the Carolina players' will and could be available.
Certainly, the Canes management had to have had an inkling of the Waddell change but that does not prevent Waddell from knowing of not only the players in the organization but the franchise's mindset on these players. This will surely give him an advantage in picking the players lower on the priority list.
Interim general manager, Eric Tulsky has worked with Waddell closely for a decade and may wet his feet in the trade market with a trustworthy friend in Waddell. Whether this is smart or not, one of the 13 players without a contract this summer will inevitably find a new one in Ohio.
Whether this is ethical or not, hopefully, Don has a soft enough space for Carolina and Tuslky to not fleece the rookie GM. I am sure the veteran general managers around the league are circling Tulsky like sharks in the water.
The almost unavoidable trade of Necas could be the beginning or end of the Tulsky era. It is a move that will most certainly need to be done first and by the NHL draft, which is creeping up on us.