Every general manager in the NHL will tell you the aim of every trade is to make the team better. Whether that's taking a big swing for a coveted player, or depth moves to fill holes in the lineup. When the Carolina Hurricanes traded for Jordan Martinook in early May 2018, I'm not sure they knew exactly how well this would bode for the organization.
Sitting at home for the 9th straight postseason, the Hurricanes went into business early in the offseason, striking a deal with the Arizona Coyotes. The deal involved a player and a pick going in each direction, with Martinook and a 4th-round selection to the Hurricanes, while Marcus Kruger and a 3rd-round pick went the other way.
Kruger's journey to the Hurricanes was an interesting one. After seven seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights shortly after the 2017 offseason began. His time in Vegas lasted less than two days, turning around and heading to Raleigh on July 4th for a 5th-round pick.
His tenure with the Hurricanes was short and forgettable. He scored just one goal in 48 games with the team, albeit a weird one, before being waived and spending the rest of the season in Charlotte. Kruger was with Arizona for just over two months before being dealt back to Chicago in the Marian Hossa deal.
With the 73rd pick in 2018, the Coyotes selected defenseman Ty Emberson. Before he ever reached the NHL, Emberson went on a journey. He was traded to the Rangers in 2022 for Patrik Nemeth and two draft picks, waived by New York, and claimed by San Jose in 2023. He finally debuted that season before being traded to Edmonton for Cody Ceci. He signed a two-year extension in April.
Martinook became a fan favorite, while the pick made history
While we know what happened with Martinook, what of the pick the Hurricanes received? The Canes used the 96th pick in the draft to select Luke Henman. Unfortunately, Henman didn't sign with the Hurricanes while they owned his rights. Once he became a free agent, he became the first player to sign a contract with the Seattle Kraken, making him the perfect answer to a future trivia question.
Henman hasn't reached the NHL yet, spending his entire career in Seattle's farm system. While he modeled his game after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Henman's career hasn't panned out that way. He's yet to crack 20 points in the AHL, topping out at 16 last season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Henman signed to play in Finland for the upcoming season.
Jordan Martinook became the most successful part of the deal for either team, and it's not very close. He wasted little time endearing himself to the Caniacs, setting a career-high in goals (15) and tying his high in points (25) in his first season. His hard work was rewarded with an "A" the following season as an alternate captain.
After three pedestrian seasons from a production standpoint, Martinook has put together three straight 10+-goal, 30+-point seasons over the last three campaigns. Last season was Martinook's best. He hit 15 goals for the second time in his career while setting a new top mark with 36 points. He has formed an incredible pair with Jordan Staal, becoming staples on the team's checking line.
Never was Martinook's impact felt better than when he completed one of the best individual series in franchise history. In the Canes' dominance over New Jersey in the 2nd round in 2023, Martinook tied the franchise record for points in a series, becoming the third player to record ten points. What sets Martinook apart from Bates Battaglia and Cory Stillman is that he got it done in just five games.
You never know where and when great trades will materialize. For the Hurricanes, I doubt they expected this little May trade to turn into a long-term relationship that has benefited each party beautifully. While Jordan Martinook might be seen as the team's biggest hype man, he's much more than that. He's an enigma who has helped change the perception of this organization.