After a league-worst ninth straight season without making the playoffs, changes were always going to be coming to the Carolina Hurricanes this off-season. Already, big moves have been made by new owner Tom Dundon, as he replaced Ron Francis as GM with Don Waddell and Bill Peters as head coach with Rod Brind’Amour. The team also brought in Rick Dudley as Sr. VP of Hockey Operations. Now, this realigned front office must decide how to proceed with structuring the roster in a way that can end their postseason drought.
Early on, the one name that has been floated around is homegrown winger Jeff Skinner. Skinner, 25, is one of the longest tenured and most consistently productive players on the Hurricanes. A supremely skilled forward, the former Calder Trophy winner has a knack for finding the back of the net and is a lethal weapon on the power play. Skinner has cracked 50 points four times in his career and has been improving in his defensive play and possession ability as his career has progressed. The fact that Skinner has been so successful on a team that has not once made the playoffs in his eight-year career tends to show that he could be even better surrounded by superior talent as well. The Los Angeles Kings were rumored to be looking into Skinner earlier this month, but now it appears that he has quite a few more suitors. In his latest “31 Thoughts” column, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman says that the number of teams making calls on Skinner is growing. There seems to be ample interest in the skilled scorer and the Hurricanes will certainly entertain offers for the impending 2019 free agent.
However, is this really the right move for the new Carolina administration to make to begin their reconstruction? Skinner undoubtedly is one of their most valuable players, but one has to question the purpose of trading him at this point in time. The Hurricanes have one of the best young defensive corps in all of hockey are are almost overflowing with talented blue liners. Meanwhile, their offense is composed of mostly complementary players, many of whom are playing higher up in the lineup than they would on most other NHL teams. What the ’Canes need more than anything is a star forward, preferably a center, to lead the offense and bring the forward group together in a cohesive unit. A top center like this is almost certainly not going to be the return on a deal for Skinner’s expiring contract. Where they may land such a player is in dealing away one of their top defenseman. Skinner may be more valuable to the Hurricanes this season, and may even consider an extension, if the Hurricanes are able to add that top player that the team is greatly in need of. They could always trade Skinner in-season if they are unable to make a deal this off-season. If instead they choose to move Skinner right now for what would most likely be picks and prospects, it could only further impair their offense and would likely lead to a tenth-straight season without playoff hockey. For the Hurricanes’ sake, let’s hope Waddell and company carefully consider any deal related to Skinner this summer.
Skinner would be a good target for the oilers or stars to pair with mcdavid or Seguin.
Can Skinner keep up with CMD? Or would he be another 2nd line at best guy to pair with Leon? He’s got the hands. But I doubt the foot speed to play on a line with McDavid. Plus they would want Nugent-hopkins in return and he seems to be one of 2 fw in the Oilers organization that can play with Connor. Which takes Drai out of the 2c role and back on a line with McDavid and doesn’t help them. Unless it’s for picks the Oilers have little to no interest.
I could see a Skinner and van riemsdyk for Nugent Hopkins type of deal. the issue with saying they can’t trade RNH is this team than simply can’t get better. there is way too much salary locked into 4-5 players. This screams future Chicago Blackhawks.
at least in this deal they get a wing which they need and a right D man for cheap as he likely would only get around 2 million in a new deal. Then they can try and deal one of their abundance of LD.
I could also see Carolina being interested in a player and pick though. having two top 10 picks. maybe strome, Montoya and #10. would clear some cap room for Edmonton to bring in and allow them to keep RNH with Mcdavid. Id be surprised if they didn’t try Yamamoto with RNH at some point though. the speed those two have would cause issues.
…until you look at the Oilers cap obligations.
Would love Skinner in Dallas. Throw him on a 2nd line with Faksa and maybe Pitlick and you have a line other than Benn-Seguin-Radulov that might actually produce some solid point totals.
Improving defensive play? Dude, what are you watching? Skinner was horrible this past season and his unwillingness to get better defensively will not fly with a Rod Brind’Amour. He’s gone.
Skinner lead the league in Takeaways. Look it up.
Also Skinner was on the third line with AHL level players, not even McDavid or Crosby could’ve made Ryan and Di Giuseppe play better. Last year when Skinner was on the top 2 lines, mostly with Staal and Stempniak, Skinner scored 37 goals, 6th in the league.
Would be a GREAT addition for the kings… speed/skill are exactly what the team needs, and wouldn’t cost a kings ransom (although the hurricanes will ask for a decent return). Skinners defense is definitely lacking, but he has the ability to CREATE offense…. something the kings are desperately lacking.
How many teams can one say he WOULDN’T be a good fit? A young top 6 winger with scoring pedigree. Why don’t we just list almost every team and why he would be a good fit?
Better yet – pick a team he WOULDN’T be a fit on? Mid 20s, scores goals, been around for a while…ya, don’t think there isn’t one fit.
there is potentially one team.
Carolina