Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks Complete Minor Trade

The Carolina Hurricanes have sent defenseman Trevor Carrick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Kyle Wood. Neither player has substantial NHL experience but will get a new start with a fresh organization. Hurricanes GM Don Waddell released a short statement on why he went after Wood:

Kyle is a big, puck-moving defenseman. He’s a couple years younger than Trevor, and will have time to continue to develop on Charlotte’s blueline. We thank Trevor for his contributions to our organization and wish him the best in San Jose.

The Sharks have also immediately agreed to a two-year, two-way contract with Carrick, who was a restricted free agent. The 25-year old defenseman will be a Group VI unrestricted free agent after the deal expires unless he plays in another 76 NHL games during that time. Selected in the fourth round in 2012, Carrick has suited up four times over the years for the Hurricanes but is still without a point at the NHL level. Instead he has spent most of his time in the minor leagues with the Charlotte Checkers as a dominant offensive force from the back end. In 376 AHL contests, Carrick has recorded 200 points.

It will be interesting to see if he gets that NHL opportunity in San Jose. He certainly wasn’t going to get it at this point in Carolina as names like Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean are still fighting for full-time roles. The Hurricanes have such a deep and young group that there was likely no way for Carrick to climb the depth chart, leaving him toiling in the minor leagues even as one of the most effective puck-movers in the AHL. The Sharks have a much different looking defense group, headlined by several older players and filled out by veterans on short-term deals.

Wood meanwhile has to join that Hurricanes depth chart and will now be trying to crack the NHL in his fourth organization. Originally selected by the Colorado Avalanche in 2014, Wood has already been traded three times. First the Avalanche sent him to the Arizona Coyotes as part of the Mikkel Boedker package, then he was flipped to San Jose last year for Adam Helewka. The 23-year old has been a good player in the minor leagues, racking up points even as a 6’5″ defenseman, but it’ll be a tough hill to climb to make any impact for the Hurricanes.