After being the centerpiece of biggest trade of the NHL Entry Draft, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t done yet. Not even close, according to News & Observer’s Luke Decock. The team still needs a goalie and still have the assets to move some key players, including defenseman Justin Faulk and most especially winger Jeff Skinner, who has been one of the most talked about players available via trade. And while a deal did not take place this weekend, that doesn’t mean that he isn’t going to be moved.
In fact, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that trade interest in Skinner is still strong. However, most teams are waiting to see where superstar unrestricted free agent John Tavares lands first before looking to pull the trigger on a Skinner trade. It looks like Skinner might be the consolation prize to the Tavares sweepstakes. Therefore, expect Carolina to wait for the free agent market to shake out before dangling Skinner (and Faulk) for the biggest gains.
“It gives us some options as we sit here today to look at anything,” general manager Don Waddell said. “We came into this weekend talking if we could do something to make our hockey club better we would look at it. We weren’t worried as much about the position as gaining the assets. We have a lot of other possible pieces to move around.”
Skinner had a down year last season when he scored just 24 goals and 49 points, but that is compared to his 37-goal season in 2016-17 and at age 26, he has already had three 30-goal seasons, making him one of the most marketable players in the NHL who can inject immediate offense into any lineup. He has one more year at a reasonable $5.725MM. If a team can get Skinner to sign an extension along with the trade, then the price for the winger might increase even more.
Who will score for the Canes?
They will need to get a Kessel type in a trade for Faulk and sign Statsny to remain competitive. Skinny should stay put
Nope. We can’t afford to resign him as a free agent so he’s got to be traded this offseason.
Varlamov (salaries match up) a forward and a pick for Skinner
Skinner needs to be on a top line. In 2016-17 he played alongside Lee Stempniak and Jordan Staal and was the 6th best goal scorer in the league. In 2017-18, Bill Peters put him on a line with Derek Ryan and Phil di Giuseppe (both AHL level forwards) and expected the same result. Skinner by far can challenge for most goals in the league being that he already has. Under a coach with more than half a brain, he could lead a team to the playoffs.
Kessel and Letang for Skinner and Faulk
Decent. But letang and kess are way to expensive. Look at their salaries!!