Carolina's winds of change

As the Hurricanes’ rebuild continues, we have to ask ourselves if this is the season Carolina can turn a corner. Has the collection of young talent acquired over the past few seasons finally matured into NHL caliber players capable of pushing the Hurricanes back into the playoffs?

It certainly looks like that’s what GM Ron Francis believes, judging from his moves this offseason.

Gone with the wind: 

Goalie Eddie Lack along with defenseman Ryan Murphy won’t be returning to play with the Hurricanes.

Lack and Murphy were traded to Calgary along with a 2018 seventh-round draft pick to the Calgary Flames for a 2019 six^th-round pick and defenseman Keegan Kanzig.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see Lack getting shipped out. With the acquisition of Scott Darling and a lack of consistency that led Carolina coach Bill Peters to question Lack’s commitment to the game had made the 29-year-old’s future in Carolina tenuous at best. Granted, Lack went on to post better numbers after his public shaming, but the writing was on the wall.

Ryan Murphy is a 24-year-old defensive prospect, Carolina’s 2011 first round pick. He hasn’t been able to break into the NHL on a full-time basis, playing 27 games last season. Murphy has 151 games in NHL since the 2012-13 season, 6 goals and 37 points.

Blowing into town:

Keegan Kanzig is a slightly younger defensive prospect than Ryan Murphy, the 22-year-old is yet to play in an NHL game. He’s had some limited AHL experience, only 9 games with Calgary’s farm team the Stockton Heat, but has been a hard hitting defensive asset at the WHL and ECHL levels.

Another major offseason trade brought veteran center and Stanley Cup champion Marcus Kruger to Carolina from Vegas, in exchange for a 2018 fifth-round draft pick. Kruger spent the last seven seasons playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, he posted 5 goals and 17 points across 70 games last season. The 27-year-old is a solid checking center who can kill penalties and even light the lamp on occasion. With two years left on his contract at $3.08 million per season, he’s a solid acquisition for the Hurricanes.

Speaking of Vegas, Carolina also acquired 26-year-old defenceman Trevor Van Riemsdyk from Vegas after he was taken from Chicago in the expansion draft. Van Riemsdyk has 158 games of NHL experience across the last three seasons and will be an RFA next year. Crucially, he’s a right-handed shot, something that Carolina’s blueline is in need of. The Hurricanes gave up a 2014 second-round pick that they had acquired from Pittsburgh.

Goalie Scott Darling was brought in from Chicago for third-round pick (originally from Ottawa), and signed to a four-year deal worth 4.15-million per season. Although unproven as a starter, Darling looked impressive playing backup in Chicago and is now positioned to be the heir to Cam Ward. Hopefully the 6’6 puck stopper can live up to those expectations, otherwise the Canes might have another Eddie Lack on their hands.

And finally, the Hurricanes have brought back 2006 Stanley Cup champ Justin Williams on a two-year contract worth 4.5 per season. The 36-year-old right winger is coming off two back-to-back twenty goals campaigns, scoring 24 goals and 48 points last season with the Capitals. He’s picked up another two Stanley Cup rings since leaving Carolina, winning again in 2011/12 and 2014/14 with the LA Kings. A testament to the kind of player, and asset, that Carolina has brought back, he also won the Conn Smyth Trophy for the Stanley Cup Playoff MVP in 2013/14. A quality signing at decent term and an affordable price.

The Hurricanes didn’t make any major changes to their roster outside of those mentioned above, and that could be a very savvy plan. Carolina didn’t spend their $17-million in cap space on pricey free agents, and they resigned as much of their young prospect core as possible.

The many re-signings include F Teuvo Teravainen (two-years), F Derek Ryan (one-year), D Trevor Carrick (one-year), D Jake Chelios (one-year), F Brock McGinn (two-years), D Philip Samuelsson (one-year), F Josh Jooris (one-year), F Phil Di Giuseppe (one-year). Oh, and of course, D Brett Pesce to a six-year contract extension ($4.025-million per season starting in 2018/19) along with D Jaccob Slavin on a seven-year contract extension ($5.3-million per season starting in 2018/19).

All in all, the Hurricanes addressed their most pressing needs, added veterans, but also managed to retain their young prospects along with locking down some of their best talent for the foreseeable future.