The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to be big players this summer as they try to change their fortunes in 2018-19. With a new owner in Tom Dundon, new GM in Don Waddell and new coach in Rod Brind’Amour, changes have already occurred throughout the organization. On the ice, rumors have surfaced around players like Jeff Skinner and Justin Faulk, with Waddell clearly wanting to shake things up. One name that is often included in trade speculation, but usually avoids being mentioned by anyone associated with the team, is Noah Hanifin.
The fifth-overall pick from 2015 stepped right into the NHL a few months after his draft, and is now three seasons deep in what has been an impressive young career. Just 21, Hanifin is now a restricted free agent for the first time and could be dangled as trade bait to try and land an even bigger fish. The Hurricanes have plenty of good options on defense, and even more coming with the likes of Haydn Fleury, Jake Bean and Roland McKeown. Still, it was hard to believe that the team would move on from Hanifin after taking another step forward offensively and looking like he could be a long-term core piece of the team. That’s why it was so interesting when Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet noted in his latest 31 Thoughts column that the Vancouver Canucks could be a “stealth team” in pursuit of the young defenseman. Friedman didn’t expand on it at all, obviously not wanting to reveal whatever made him observe the potential fit.
On the surface, it’s not clear what fit there would be. The Hurricanes are looking for scoring help up front, and other than Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser—both of whom aren’t expected to be dealt any time soon—there isn’t a lot of high-end talent on the Canucks forward roster. Top prospect Elias Pettersson is surely off limits, and Adam Gaudette isn’t enough on his own to land Hanifin.
An interesting thought though could be Waddell’s recent comments on the goaltending situation in Carolina. The Hurricanes struggled in net last season, with Cam Ward feeling the effects of age and Scott Darling not able to reproduce his success from Chicago. Though the latter is still under contract, it’s not clear where the answer is for the Hurricanes in the short or long-term. Vancouver could present an answer to that, as goaltending prospect Thatcher Demko is considered ready for the NHL and is expected to be of starting caliber for his career. The 22-year old is stuck behind Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson for the time being, but many believe he is the Canucks’ goaltender of the future. Interestingly though, the team also has Michael DiPietro in the system, who starred in the OHL again and even got to be part of Team Canada at the World Championship. Though he didn’t play for the team, his selection as the third goaltender just shows how highly he is regarded as a prospect. There’s no guarantee DiPietro even finds success at the AHL level, but so far he’s done nothing to show that he’s not deserving of the third-round selection Vancouver used last summer.
Even if Vancouver doesn’t land Hanifin, the idea that Friedman would need to reveal them as a “stealth” team lends credence to the idea that the young Hurricanes defenseman is available, at least for the right price. Though that return would have to be hefty, some team could land themselves quite the prize if there is a deal to be made. Hanifin should get a substantial raise this summer, but as a legitimate top-4 option that is still only 21-years old, it would be hard to find a team that wouldn’t accept him into their dressing room.
Nope. He’s not leaving Raleigh.
Kessel could help Carolina
Just a journalist making up stuff. Then websites like this jump on it as an actual rumour.
The art of journalism is gone. Just make something up and report on it. That’s what Eliot did, and that’s what Gavin is doing here.
O’Reilly to Carolina?
Vancouver a “stealth team” for a big name? Sounds easy enough, until you realize Benning is a bonehead.