Hurricanes and Ducks make a one for one trade today

As NHL teams continue to make moves ahead of the offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks completed a swap that could have implications for both organizations' depth charts. The deal, announced on Tuesday by Hurricanes General Manager Eric Tulsky, involves players who have spent the bulk of their recent seasons outside the NHL spotlight but could be looking for fresh starts with new clubs.

The Trade Details

Carolina brought in defenseman Kyle Masters from Anaheim, sending forward Noah Philp the other way. Masters, a 23-year-old blueliner from Edmonton, Alberta, suited up for just 10 games this past season with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL, picking up three assists during that stretch. Originally a fourth-round selection by the Minnesota Wild at 118th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Masters has yet to crack an NHL lineup but has compiled a respectable minor league resume.

Over the course of his professional career, the 6-foot, 177-pound defenseman has played in 69 ECHL contests between Iowa and Wichita, accumulating 35 points on nine goals and 26 assists. He has also seen action in 35 AHL games with Iowa, where he registered one goal and five assists. Before turning pro, Masters put together a solid junior career in the WHL, tallying 92 points across 175 games split between Red Deer and Kamloops from 2019 to 2023.

What Philp Brings to Anaheim

Heading to the Ducks, Noah Philp offers some NHL experience and offensive upside at the minor league level. The forward appeared in 15 games with the Edmonton Oilers earlier this season, recording two goals and one assist before being placed on waivers. Carolina claimed him in late December, but he only saw the ice twice at the NHL level with the Hurricanes. He spent the majority of his time with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, where he was productive, posting eight goals and nine assists in just 19 regular-season games.

Of course... Philp comes with a GIANT caveat. And that caveat is that there are reports that he has his sights set on signing in Europe this offseason. Of course, the Ducks could change all of that with one phone call.

While neither player is considered a top prospect, the trade represents the kind of organizational housekeeping that can pay dividends down the line. For the Hurricanes, adding a young defenseman with junior pedigree and room to develop gives them another option on the back end within their system. For Anaheim, acquiring a forward who has shown he can produce at the AHL level and has some NHL games under his belt adds versatility to their pipeline. Both teams will be hoping that a change of scenery helps unlock the next step for their newly acquired players heading into the 2026-27 campaign.