There was a lot of discussion about the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft and the decentralized format. It was a major flop for the league, ushering in a litany of awkward moments as the newly drafted players communicated with their new bosses virtually. Hurricanes General Manager Eric Tulsky must've seen this and decided it wasn't worth participating on Friday night.
Instead, the Hurricanes did exactly what everyone expected them to do. Some Caniacs were a little upset to have waited four hours for no pick to be made, though others saw this coming from a mile away, myself included. The Canes didn't use the 29th pick, instead trading it to ensure the team made their first pick on Day 2.
The Hurricanes stick to their tried and true method
For the third time in five seasons, the Hurricanes traded out of the first round, sending their pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for two second-round picks on Saturday at 34th and 62nd overall and a fifth-round pick in two years. It's the second year in a row the Canes have sent their first-round pick to Chicago.
The move makes plenty of sense for the Hurricanes, who came into the draft without a second-round pick this season after trading it in the initial Mikko Rantanen deal in January. Now, they own two picks to start Saturday, including the second pick of the round. They essentially moved down five spots and added two more picks. It's textbook Hurricanes draft maneuvering.
I know the initial disappointment of waiting for a pick that didn't come is frustrating. However, this was the right call for the team. The Canes did what they needed to do, and they'll still likely get the player they wanted with the 34th pick instead. There were many flaws with the NHL's formatting on Friday night. The Hurricanes' decision-making was not one of them.