Potential Trade Targets for the Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are in the middle of a heated battle near the top of the NHL standings.

As the midway point of the season passes. Carolina will look to bolster their roster in preparation for

a deep playoff run. They have the assets to target some top names available on the trade market.

What are the names Carolina are (or) should be targeting?

Jakob Chychrun

Jakob Chychrun has been rumored to a handful of teams across the NHL, one of them being Carolina.

The others include Boston, Toronto, Florida, Columbus, Anaheim, and the Rangers. Chyrchrun is on

a fantastic contract. Three years remain after this season with only a 4.6 million cap hit. Chyrchrun’s

basic stats paint the picture that he has had a bad season. Only 8 points and a -31 in 32 games. But

the underlying numbers suggest that he is still capable of being a shutdown top-pairing defenseman.

Chyrchrun’s C percentage is 3.7 above the Coyotes’ team CF percentage(Via hockey-reference.com). Chychrun also is 3.7 xGoals percentage above the Coyotes’ xGoals percentage as a team

(Via MoneyPuck.com). Chychrun fits Carolina’s 5v5 shoot and retrieve system. He leads the Coyotes in

shot attempts at 186 (Via MoneyPuck.com).

Chychrun would likely slot into a 2nd pairing role with Brett Pesce on Carolina.

A top-4 of Slavin, DeAngelo, Chychrun, and Pesce is tough to beat. Carolina would likely have to give

up at least one, probably two first-rounders in a deal for Chychrun. As well as a solid prospect (someone

like Suzuki or Keane),

Conclusion: Carolina should absolutely pursue a trade for Chychrun, as he stabilizes the top-4, and

provides three more seasons of a great contract.

Claude Giroux

The Flyer’s captain is on the trade block, as Philadelphia looks to re-tool or potentially rebuild. No one

would debate that Giroux is getting a bit older, but his Center/Winger versatility is something that would

add a ton of value to the Canes roster. Giroux has still produced at a high level this season, producing 35

points in 41 games. Giroux’s underlying numbers also suggest that he is still an elite player. His xGoals

relative to Philadelphia’s is at an astounding 18.1 percent (Via MoneyPuck.com). Giroux may not be the

superstar he was when he was younger, but he is still a top-line forward with elite skills. Giroux would be

a rental, as he has only this season left on his current contract. His cap hit is 8.275 million, and Carolina

would likely have to ask Philadelphia to retain close to or at 50 percent of Giroux’s cap hit. Giroux would

also have to waive his No-Move Clause for Carolina if the Canes want to acquire him in a trade. It is also

likely Philadelphia would ask for higher value from Carolina since the two teams are division rivals.

Giroux would likely fit into either a 2nd-line role next to Svecnikov and Necas, or he would be with

Teravainen and Aho. Carolina getting Giroux at 50 percent retained salary would likely require a 1st round

pick and either a solid prospect or potentially a top prospect like Jack Drury or Alexander Nikishin. 

Conclusion: Giroux is an elite player, but his NMC, as well as Philadelphia’s high asking price, is too

much for Carolina to consider a trade for Giroux’s talents.

Tomas Hertl

Tomas Hertl is one of, if not the best player swirling around the rumor mill at the moment. Hertl is on

the last year of his contract, leaving him to be a UFA after this season. At 29 years old, he will get a

substantial amount of money, meaning in all likelihood Carolina would be getting a rental. Hertl himself

is an elite player. He has 38 points in 45 games for San Jose at this point of the season. His base stats

speak for themselves, but the underlying numbers also point to him being an elite player. He has a

26-17 takeaway-giveaway ratio, and he posts a +4.6 percent xGoals relative to San Jose’s team xGoals

(Via MoneyPuck.com) Carolina would likely need San Jose to retain around one million of Hertl’s 5.625

million dollar cap hit in a theoretical trade. Hertl also has a M-NTC where he submits a list of three teams

he would accept a trade to. Carolina may be one of them, but it is not certain. Hertl would likely slot into

the 2nd line with Trocheck and Svechnikov, or a 3rd line center role with Niederreiter and Fast.

Considering Hertl’s talent level, and the retained cap needed. Carolina would have to give up at least a

1st rounder, and a solid prospect (Keane or Suzuki).

Conclusion: Carolina would benefit from trading for Hertl. But other forward options could come at a

lower trade price, and provide quality play. Plus Hertl would have to put Carolina on his three-team list. 

John Klingberg

The Star’s top right-handed defenseman has been on the block for a month or two now. And Carolina

has inquired Dallas multiple times about Klingberg’s availability. John Klingberg is having another

solid year for the Stars. Posting 23 points in 36 games. His advanced stats are nothing too special, but

they show that he has been a solid player. His relative xGoals percentage is 1.8 percent (Via MoneyPuck.com). Klingberg also leads the Stars defenseman in points per 60 at 1.79 (Via MoneyPuck.com)Klingberg is in the last year of his contract, and he will be a UFA next offseason. Carolina in all likelihood

would be getting a rental. Klingberg would likely fit on the top pair next to Slavin. Moving DeAngelo to a

3rd pairing role. DeAngelo would almost for sure stay on the top PP unit. Carolina would likely have to

give up a 1st rounder and either a 2nd rounder or a decent prospect (Puistola, Nybeck) to acquire Klingberg.

 

Conclusion: Klingberg is not as good defensively as Chyrchrun, and he would not have the impact of

Hertl or the other forwards on this list. But he is a solid two-way player who would add even more quality

depth to the Hurricanes for a relatively low trade price. Carolina should pursue a trade for Klingberg.

Joe Pavelski

Pavelski has always been one of the more underrated players in the NHL. He has provided elite offense

this season for the Stars, producing 48 points in 42 games, while 20 of his 29 assists have been primary

assists. Pavelski’s impacts when he is on the ice have been elite this season, his relative xGoals is 18.3(!)

percent (Via MoneyPuck.com)Pavelski can fit on the wing or at the center, and he always finds ways to create offense from defense.

Something that will fit perfectly on Carolina’s high-pressure system. Pavelski is in the last year of his

contract, and Carolina will need Dallas to retain some of Pavelski’s 7 million dollar cap hit in a trade.

Pavelski would be a rental if Carolina were to acquire him. Pavelski would also need to add Carolina to

his 3 team trade list. Pavelski would fit into either the 2nd line with Trocheck and Svechnikov or the 1st

line with Aho and Teravainen. Carolina would probably need to give up a 1st rounder and a solid prospect

(Keane or Suzuki) to acquire Pavelski

Conclusion: Carolina would add a lot if they acquire Pavelski, but Carolina will need to be on his 3 team

trade list. If Carolina is on the list they should acquire Pavelski, but in all likelihood, Carolina will not be

able to attain Pavelski’s talents.

Alex DeBrincat

The Blackhawks front office in mid-January said that Toews, Kane, and Jones were the only untouchables

on the Blackhawks. Alex DeBrincat not being on that list should be a huge sign for any elite team to try and

trade for his talents. Carolina would heavily benefit from acquiring DeBrincat. He has one year left on his

6.4 million dollar contract after this season, but at the end of his contract, he is an RFA with arbitration rights.

DeBrincat’s production speaks for itself, he has scored 26 goals (10 on the powerplay) this season, while

adding 10 assists (6 on the powerplay). DeBrincat’s underlying stats also show how elite he has been

offensively this season. His xGoals percentage relative to Chicago’s is 18.1 percent (Via MoneyPuck.com), by far the highest on the Blackhawks. DeBrincat also generates high-quality chances for himself, which is

one of the reasons he has been an elite goal-scorer throughout his career so far. DeBrincat has 18

High-Danger shot attempts, and 42 Medium-Danger shot attempts this season (Via MoneyPuck.com)DeBrincat’s shooting percentage (18.8) is high relative to other forwards, but his shooting talent, combined

with his ability to generate high-quality chances for himself lends his goal-scoring to be sustainable for most

of his career. DeBrincat would slot into a 1st line role next to Teravainen and Aho, and be the trigger man

on one of the two powerplay units in all likelihood. Considering the skill level of DeBrincat, and the value

his contract brings. Carolina would likely have to trade something along the lines of a 1st rounder, a top

prospect (Drury or Nikishin), and a roster player that fits Chicago’s timeline (Ethan Bear, Steven Lorentz, or

Jesperi Kotkaniemi).

Conclusion: The price for Debrincat would be steep, but his talent level and contract value cannot be understated. I think Carolina should absolutely pursue a trade for Alex DeBrincat.