The Hurricanes started the offseason with a bang, trading for former New York Ranger defenseman K’Andre Miller and signing forward Nikolaj Ehlers as the team attempts to build an outfit that is capable of getting over the hump in the Eastern Conference.
According to NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, Carolina was eyeing an even bigger splash, reportedly considering targeting defenseman Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers via the offer sheet.
Bouchard, who entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, was one of the bigger names in the free agency field heading into its start on July 1.
Faced with the threat of an offer sheet from Carolina, Edmonton was able to get a 4-year, $42-million deal done quickly with Bouchard. This forced the Hurricanes to pivot to a sign-and-trade for Miller, according to Friedman.
“Carolina did a lot of things that are now coming to the surface to show that they were willing to be aggressive,” Friedman said on his ‘32 Thoughts’ podcast. “The reason Evan Bouchard’s extension got done so quickly was because they threatened the Oilers with an offer sheet. And we’ll find out someday what the truth is there.”
It’s no surprise that general manager Eric Tulsky was aggressive in this situation, as Bouchard has quickly become one of the best young defensemen in the league. The 24-year-old was fifth in the NHL in points among defensemen with 67 in 82 games, while anchoring Edmonton’s power play last season.
After missing out on Bouchard, the Hurricanes turned their attention to Miller, acquiring him and signing him to an 8-year, $60-million deal. The 6'5" defenseman comes off a 27-point season in which he seemed to struggle at times.
However, there is optimism that Miller will fit in well in head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s system, similarly to how Brady Skjei did when Carolina traded for him from the Rangers back in 2020.
While the Hurricanes didn’t find a way to land Bouchard, they still acquired a high-upside player in Miller, who could be a cornerstone on the blueline for years to come.