Hurricanes Acquire Nicolas Deslauriers, Flyers Claim Luke Glendening
4:36 p.m.: If Deslauriers plays in half of Carolina’s 2026 playoff games and they win two playoff rounds, then the Flyers receive Carolina’s 2027 seventh-rounder. If those conditions aren’t met, the pick doesn’t transfer, per PuckPedia.
12:56 p.m.: The Hurricanes are acquiring winger Nicolas Deslauriers from the Flyers, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. A conditional seventh-round pick in 2027 is headed the other way, per Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports. The Flyers have filled Deslauriers’ roster spot by claiming center Luke Glendening off waivers from the Devils, per Friedman.
Deslauriers, now in his 13th NHL season, moves on from the Flyers amid his fourth season in Philly. While he used to have a small bit of goal-scoring upside in his game, the 35-year-old is now a pure enforcer at this stage of his career. He’s only managed 13 shots on goal this season in 25 games, recording one assist and a -3 rating.
The left winger has been in the press box more than he’s been in the lineup this season, checking in no higher than 13th on the Flyers’ forward depth chart. He’s yet to appear in more than three consecutive games. He certainly won’t see any more frequent ice time than that in Carolina, but he’ll slot in as a press-box piece and can step in as an enforcer when needed. The Flyers, who had minimal use for the pending UFA, will happily have a chance at recouping a draft pick.
It doesn’t look like they’ll be giving Deslauriers’ spot to a prospect, though. The 36-year-old will end up giving the Flyers some short-term center depth that they’ve needed in the wake of a right ankle fracture to Rodrigo Abols that’s kept him out since January, forcing natural winger Carl Grundström to slide over to the middle.
Glendening, once viewed as one of the better defensive pivots in the league, is still hanging onto an NHL job in his 13th season. He was a PTO signing by New Jersey late last summer and landed a league-minimum contract. He’s ended up serving as their fourth-line center for most of the year but has averaged a career-low 9:54 of ice time per night through 52 appearances. He’s yet to score a goal this season and has four assists with a -11 rating. Once a top faceoff specialist, he’s down to a more pedestrian 51.7% win rate on the dot this year.
Latest On Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi was dressed tonight for the Hurricanes’ contest against the Vancouver Canucks, marking the Finnish pivot’s re-entry into the Hurricanes’ lineup after three consecutive games as a healthy scratch. With the deadline creeping closer, Kotkaniemi’s status is one to monitor as reports emerged in January that the Hurricanes were shopping the player. It’s unlikely the team’s interest in dealing Kotkaniemi has ceased, and so today’s decision to dress the center marks the final time he’ll be able to appear before NHL pro scouts before the trade deadline. Kotkaniemi has four years remaining on his contract at a $4.82MM cap hit, and has a 10-team no-trade list in his contract. The 2018 No. 3 overall pick scored 12 goals and 33 points last season but has just nine points in 36 games this year.
Hurricanes Interested In Evander Kane
He didn’t provide an exhaustive list, but Johnston stated that the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, among others, have each inquired about Kane to some capacity. Johnston doesn’t expect the price to be all that high, and he indicated that the Canucks have no issue retaining half of Kane’s salary for the rest of the season, making him much more financially palatable.
Eric Robinson Expected To Return After Olympics
- Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News reported that the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to have forward Eric Robinson back after the Olympics. He shared a quote from head coach Rod Brind’Amour, saying, “We’re not rushing it but we’re pretty sure… well, it’s trending like he’ll be ready to go.” He’s been recovering from an upper-body injury since January 21st.
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Hurricanes Sign Brandon Bussi To Three-Year Extension
The Hurricanes announced they’ve signed goaltender Brandon Bussi to a three-year extension. The deal is worth $1.9MM annually for a total value of $5.7MM. He was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but the new deal will keep him under contract with Carolina through the 2028-29 campaign. He’ll earn a $850K salary and $150K signing bonus in 2026-27, a $1MM salary and $850K signing bonus in 2027-28, and a $1MM salary with a $1.85MM signing bonus in the last year, per PuckPedia. He’ll also carry a 10-team no-trade clause in 2028-29.
Bussi, 27, has had a dream start to his NHL career. Claimed off waivers from the Panthers at the beginning of the season to serve as the third-stringer behind Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, the undrafted free agent has since emerged as the Canes’ clear starting option in what’s been a tumultuous season for the rest of their crease.
While the Western Michigan product had a strong AHL track record entering the year, he didn’t have a single NHL start to his name. He’s now made 27 of them with a raucous 23-3-1 record, putting up a .906 SV% and 2.16 GAA with two shutouts. Just before the break, he broke into the top 10 in the league in terms of goals saved above expected with 11.0, per MoneyPuck.
With the struggling Andersen set to ride off into the open market this summer and Kochetkov likely done for the year with a hip injury, Carolina has a ton invested in Bussi being able to keep up that level of play. With no blue-chip prospects ready to succeed Andersen as the starter and no high-end long-term options set to be available in free agency, the Canes needed some insurance past this season as well. Retaining Bussi at such a marginal cap hit gives them that insurance with virtually no risk, even if his numbers regress and he settles back in as more of a No. 2/3 option.
Bussi’s strong career minor-league numbers suggest he’s got a good chance of being able to keep this up, though. Signed by the Bruins as an undrafted free agent in 2022, he was an AHL All-Star as a rookie while putting up a .924 SV% and 22-5-4 record in 32 games for Providence. He remained in the Boston organization until reaching unrestricted free agent status last summer, landing a two-way deal with the Panthers before being lost on waivers in training camp. In four AHL seasons before hitting the open market, he made 111 appearances with a 2.61 GAA, .915 SV%, eight shutouts, and a 63-31-13 record.
His lack of NHL experience was always going to make it hard for him to land an eye-popping cap hit on his next deal, though. Reports emerged last month that the Canes were working to get him extended. The few reasonable comparables for Bussi’s camp in the last several years all topped out in the high $1MM range on a short-term multi-year deal, so this one doesn’t push the envelope by very much.
It’s nonetheless a shrewd signing by general manager Eric Tulsky, who’s essentially given Carolina a worst-case scenario of Bussi and Kochetkov as next season’s tandem if Andersen walks and they don’t pursue an external replacement via trade or free agency. Bussi will be 31 years old when his deal is up, joining a potential 2029 UFA goalie class of Thatcher Demko, Spencer Knight, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Linus Ullmark.
Trade Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes
With the Olympic break now upon us, the trade deadline is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We begin our look around the league with teams that have clear plans at the extremes of the standings, this time with the Hurricanes.
Last season, the Hurricanes seemingly landed their big fish, acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche. Unfortunately, due to an initial lack of traction in extension negotiations and a flat-out denial to sign a new contract, Carolina shipped Rantanen to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven and several draft picks. Furthermore, the Hurricanes attempted to swap Rantanen for Mitch Marner, then with the Toronto Maple Leafs, before being told that he, too, wouldn’t sign an extension. Regardless, Carolina has remained one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and has been connected to nearly every big-ticket trade candidate.
Record
36-15-6, 1st in the Metropolitan (99.8% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$40.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: DAL 1st, SJ 4th, TOR 6th, CAR 6th
2027: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, DAL 3rd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th
Trade Chips
Given that nearly every report indicates the Hurricanes are going big-game hunting, there wouldn’t be any surprise to see them move one, if not both, non-lottery first-round picks they have through next season (assuming they’re competitive again next year). Still, there are a few prospects and rostered players Carolina could dangle for a big addition.
Despite being on pace to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, the Hurricanes have one of the league’s better prospect pools. Highlighted by Kurban Limatov, Bradly Nadeau, Dominik Badinka, Felix Unger-Sörum, and Nikita Artamonov, Carolina could conceivably trade any of them for a big addition to the team. In an ideal scenario, since it is not always easy for the Hurricanes to attract big free agents, the team could retain Nadeau long-term for a future top-six role. He has scored 18 goals and 41 points in 34 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this season.
Still, Carolina may be able to land an upper-level player without parting with any prospects. The Hurricanes are known to be shopping Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and are reportedly open to moving defenseman Alexander Nikishin for the right price. Given that he’s signed through the 2029-30 season at a $4.82MM price tag, and he’s only scored two goals and nine points through 36 games this season, Kotkaniemi would be a complementary piece in any trade. However, a package of Nikishin, Kotkaniemi, and their two first-round picks through next season could land a more than meaningful addition.
Nikishin’s value is self-explanatory. He’s a formidable two-way defenseman, scoring seven goals and 22 points in 56 games while averaging 18:20 of ice time per game. Additionally, he’s third on the team in hits with 100, and has a 91.5% on-ice save percentage at even strength. It’s hard to imagine any team balking at adding a player like Nikishin to their defensive core for the next several years, if not more.
Team Needs
Star Forward: As described, the Hurricanes desperately need a star. There’s nothing wrong with Sebastian Aho leading the pack, but putting a star next to him would put Carolina into a different tier. Given the trade market this year, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues appears to be the ideal candidate. Thomas, 26, has scored 58 goals and 200 points in his last 194 games and helped the Blues win their first Stanley Cup title in 2019. He doesn’t have the best possession metrics, but would seemingly fit effortlessly into Rod Brind’Amour‘s system. Given that they have an aging defensive core (outside of Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux), St. Louis, which has expectedly put a high price on Thomas, could be enticed by a package of Nikishin, Kotkaniemi, two first-round picks, and one of Carolina’s top-five prospects.
Goalie Depth: The best word to describe the Hurricanes’ goaltending tandem is weird. The team has relied heavily on rookie netminder Brandon Bussi, who’s managed a 23-3-1 record in his first 27 games with a .906 SV% and 2.16 GAA. Carolina, of all teams, isn’t a stranger to riding the hot hand in the playoffs (looking at you, Cam Ward), but it would be prudent to give him some better insurance. Frederik Andersen, 36, is having the worst season of his professional career, and there’s no guarantee that Pyotr Kochetkov will return this season. Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of options on the trade market, but the Hurricanes could look at some expiring assets, such as Alex Nedeljkovic of the San Jose Sharks or James Reimer of the Ottawa Senators.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Team Canada To Replace Injured Brayden Point With Seth Jarvis
After five days of practices, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point has determined he will not be healthy enough to join Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He has been removed from the roster and will be replaced by Carolina Hurricanes’ winger Seth Jarvis, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Point sustained a knee injury in Tampa Bay’s January 12th win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The injury knocked him off the ice until last Saturday, when he returned to practice with the hopes of working back to health in time for a trip to Milan, per Eduardo A. Encina of Tampa Bay Times. Despite that return, Point has determined he won’t be at 100 percent before games kick off. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois commended Point – and Tampa Bay teammate Anthony Cirelli – for their selflessness in giving up their spot rather than trying to play through injury in a text to LeBrun.
This switch will bring on some stylistic changes for Team Canada. Point is often used as a center, though seemed headed for a wing-role in Milan in part thanks to his 45.9 faceoff percentage this season. He is a reserved scorer who has managed 11 goals and 30 points in 37 games, typically finding his scoring chances from the slot. Jarvis has proven much more aggressive in recent years, typically operating as the first-man-in on Carolina’s forecheck and cutting his teeth in board battles. He has 69 hits on the season to Point’s four. Jarvis has also scored 25 goals and 43 points in 48 games, continuing his knack for strong scoring after cresting the 30-goal and 65-point mark in each of the last two seasons.
Both players found an impact for Team Canada at the 2025 4-Nations Face-Off. Point served up the lineup and managed two points in four games, while Jarvis defaulted to the bottom-six and scored one assist in three games. They were both on the ice for the tournament finale against Team USA, where Point’s 21 minutes of ice time ranked second on the offense behind only Connor McDavid. Jarvis played roughly 13 minutes in that game – second-lowest on the team ahead of Brad Marchand.
That deployment goes far in painting Canada’s view of the two stars. While Jarvis has acheived more success this season, he is still the junior to two-time Stanley Cup winner Point. Jarvis is six years younger and still carving out his presence in the NHL. This year’s Winter Olympics could go far in helping cement his status, especially after Jarvis only attended two tournaments with Canada – the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Championshp and Hlinka Gretzky Cup – prior to his selection to the 4-Nations roster. This will be his biggest stage yet and it comes at a perfect time. Jarvis is red-hot, with 10 points and a plus-eight in his last nine games, of which Carolina has won seven.
Notably, this decisions will leave Winnipeg Jets star Mark Scheifele and Chicago Blackhawks cornerstone Connor Bedard both at home. Scheifele hasn’t represented Canada internationally since the 2017 World Championship when he scored eight points in 10 games. Nearly a decade later, the Jets alternate captain is on pace for 40 goals and 100 points this season – so far at 27 goals and 68 points in 56 games. Bedard has offered plenty of offensive punch of his own, with 23 goals and 53 points in 43 games on a struggling Blackhawks offense. The duo are two of the league’s most skilled scorers but will be superceded by a winger who offers a bit more intangibles.
Photo courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images.
Hurricanes Remain Interested In Panarin Extension
In his update, Pagnotta suggested that the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks remain interested in acquiring Panarin with an extension. In contrast, the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers view him only as a rental. Additionally, Pagnotta mentioned that unless something changes relatively soon, the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Utah Mammoth, and Washington Capitals are no longer in the running.
Hurricanes Activate, Reassign Charles-Alexis Legault
The Hurricanes announced that they’ve activated defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault from injured reserve and assigned him to AHL Chicago. He had been out since early November due to surgery to repair several torn extensor tendons on his right hand.
Legault, 22, was one of Carolina’s sharpest risers in training camp. A fifth-round pick in 2023, he’s in just his second professional season after notching 14 points in 63 games for Chicago last year. He didn’t crack the Canes’ opening night roster but found his way back up after just two AHL games when Carolina’s defense was in disarray due to injuries.
The 6’4″, 220-lb righty played in eight games for the Canes before sustaining his hand injury in a fight against the Maple Leafs on Nov. 9. He registered his first two NHL points, a goal and an assist, with a +4 rating while averaging 13:16 per game. He had great underlying possession numbers in his small sample, controlling 57.8% of shot attempts at even strength.
That surely has Carolina excited about his defensive upside, but with their defense back at full health, there’s no role for him right now. He’ll get some more consistent reps in Chicago before entering the final season of his entry-level deal and gunning for more ice time next season. Regardless, he’s still rather high up on their list of right-shot recalls if they need one.
Hurricanes Interested In Nazem Kadri
Still, that’s a long shot from Montreal’s perspective. Further down the article, D’Amico suggested that the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Minnesota Wild remain interested in acquiring Kadri in varying degrees. There is no word on whether those teams are on Kadri’s no-trade list.