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Carolina Hurricanes Sign Noel Gunler

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Now that his season overseas has ended, Noel Gunler is on his way to North America. The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Gunler to a three-year, entry-level contract that starts in 2022-23, and an AHL professional tryout contract for the rest of this season. The young forward will join the Chicago Wolves for now, something Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell mentioned in a statement:

Noel is a sharpshooter who has the pace to play our up-tempo style. We’re lucky to have him join the Wolves for their playoff run.

Gunler, 20, was selected in the second round in 2020, 41st overall after his first full season in the SHL. After impressing at the World Juniors last year, and finding his way to Brynas, he’s taken his game to an entirely new level, scoring 13 goals and 23 points in 52 games. While those numbers don’t pop out and suggest he’ll become an immediate star in North America, Gunler’s upside is significant.

For the Hurricanes, adding another prospect with a high offensive ceiling is important, but it’s the Wolves who are going to benefit the quickest. Chicago is currently the best team in the AHL with a 40-11-10 record and figure to be a top contender for the Calder Cup. Adding another young talent will only help that chase, and allow Gunler to jump right into a competitive atmosphere to start his career with the Hurricanes organization.

NHL Upholds Nino Niederreiter Suspension

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the one-game suspension assessed to Nino Niederreiter after the Carolina Hurricanes forward filed an appeal. The suspension was handed out more than a week ago and Niederreiter has already missed a game and then returned to the lineup, meaning this appeal was simply to try and clear his record and recoup the forfeited salary.

Niederreiter was suspended for slashing Axel Jonsson Fjallby while the Washington Capitals forward was still on the bench. At the time, the Department of Player safety called the incident a “controlled, and purposeful stick swing directed toward an opponent on the bench” and worthy of a suspension, even with a relative lack of force.

In the two-page decision, Bettman explains:

Mr. Niederreiter has no history of supplemental discipline in his ten (10) year NHL career, and his demeanor during the hearing was remorseful and respectful. However, I cannot discount the intentional, retaliatory, and potentially dangerous nature of his action. I accept that this was not a forceful act; however, the onus is on Mr. Niederreiter as a Player on the ice not to engage with Players on the bench, even if the Players on the bench engaged with him and especially when contact is with a Player who is unsuspecting and not involved. Moreover, even while I accept Mr. Niederreiter’s statement that his slash was not forceful, any intentional use of a stick to make contact with a Player’s neck or head is unacceptable, and certainly with a Player on the bench. While Mr. Jonsson-Fjallby was not injured in this instance, a matter of centimeters could have led to a dramatically different result.

Niederreiter forfeited just over $26K for the incident and will have it added to his supplementary discipline history. It will be considered in any future rulings. Tonight, meanwhile, he’ll be back on the ice against the Capitals.

Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Tarmo Reunanen

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The AHL trade deadline frenzy continues, this time with the Carolina Hurricanes adding some interesting defensive depth from the New York Rangers. The Hurricanes have acquired Tarmo Reunanen in exchange for Maxim Letunov. Because this deal was done after the NHL trade deadline, both players are no longer eligible to play in the NHL this season. They can however continue to play in the AHL, where they will report to their new teams.

Reunanen, 24, is in the final year of his entry-level contract, originally signed with the Rangers in 2019, and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The fourth-round pick actually played in four NHL games last season, but has been limited to minor league action this time around, recording 17 points in 40 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He’ll now join the Chicago Wolves, who happen to be the best team in the AHL so far, sitting first in the Central Division with a 39-11-10 record.

This is an interesting move for the Hurricanes because of Reunanen’s contract status, even though he could potentially return to Finland in the offseason. Adding an RFA for Letunov, who will be a Group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, seems like at the very least a nice swap of assets for Carolina.

The 26-year-old Letunov has been a good minor league player over the last few years, but has seen his offensive output drop considerably this season. In 60 games with the Wolves he had just 23 points, something that will be easily replaced by Richard Panik, who was also loaned to the team today from the Bridgeport Islanders.

That’s not to say the Hartford Wolf Pack are throwing in the towel, though. Letunov was a second-round pick in 2014 and has shown a scoring touch in the past, even reaching 40 points in 50 games during the 2019-20 season. That same season he managed three games with the San Jose Sharks, where he scored his first (and only) NHL goal. With Hartford still firmly in the playoff chase in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, he should help their offensive output down the stretch.

Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Max Domi In Three-Team Trade

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The Carolina Hurricanes were able to make a last-second addition, acquiring Max Domi from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a complicated three-team trade just ahead of today’s deadline. The Florida Panthers are playing salary broker, retaining some of Domi’s remaining contract in order for him to fit into the Hurricanes cap situation. The deal will look like this:

To Columbus: Aidan Hreschuk
To Florida: Egor Korshkov, 2022 sixth-round pick (TOR)
To Carolina: Max Domi (50% retained CBJ, 25% retained FLA), Tyler Inamoto

None of Hreschuk, Korshkov, or Inamoto are currently signed to NHL contracts.

It’s a bit of an odd trade for the Blue Jackets, but they will end up with arguably the best prospect of the bunch out of the deal in Hreschuk. Selected 94th overall in 2021, the 19-year-old defenseman currently plays at Boston College where he registered eight points in 37 games as a freshman. He was actually ranked even higher than that by several lists going into the draft, but ended up slipping almost all the way out of the third round, likely because of concerns over his size. The 5’11” defenseman is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program and isn’t someone to overlook though, as he is very physical and engaged when playing in his own end.

Florida meanwhile will get a chance to bring a former top prospect back to North America, as Korshkov is a restricted free agent playing in the KHL. Originally selected 31st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, he eventually returned to Russia to play in 2020-21. This season for Yaroslavl he has scored 11 goals and 22 points, and would need a new contract if he’s going to play for Florida. A big, rangy forward, Korshkov isn’t overly physical but can use a powerful shot and surprisingly strong mobility to contribute in a depth role, if convinced to return.

Inamoto, 22, went back to play his fifth year at Wisconsin this season, where the fifth-round pick recorded just two points in 26 games. While he’s an interesting one to follow in a Carolina system known for its unique scouting group, Domi is obviously the prize here.

The 27-year-old pending UFA has nine goals and 32 points this season for the Blue Jackets, his second in Columbus since a trade from the Montreal Canadiens. Now joining his fourth NHL organization, the 12th overall pick from 2013 has 99 goals and 307 points in 482 career games. There’s no doubt that Domi can contribute on the offensive end, add some toughness and grit, too often in his previous stops he has had an inconsistent game that bordered on irresponsible defensively. It has made him a frustrating player for coaches and fans alike, given his obvious talents, but could potentially be a nice under-the-radar pickup for the Hurricanes as they push for the Stanley Cup.

If he can fit into their structure, Domi will provide another bit of firepower among a forward group that’s already one of the deepest in the league. The gamble didn’t cost them a ton, especially given how many other interesting prospects remain in the Carolina system.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi Signs Long-Term Extension

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Now that he could officially ink an eight-year deal, Jesperi Kotkaniemi is locked in with the Carolina Hurricanes. The team has announced an eight-year extension which will carry an average annual value of $4.82MM. PuckPedia reports the full breakdown:

  • 2022-23: $4.0MM
  • 2023-24: $4.5MM
  • 2024-25: $4.82MM
  • 2025-26: $4.82MM
  • 2026-27: $4.82MM
  • 2027-28: $5.2MM
  • 2028-29: $5.2MM
  • 2029-30: $5.2MM

The deal does not contain any signing bonuses and includes a ten-team no-trade clause once he is eligible for it in 2025.

Kotkaniemi, 21, will always be a hot-button issue for Carolina and Montreal Canadiens fans, after he was signed to an offer sheet last summer that came with plenty of gamesmanship between the two franchises. The young forward certainly hasn’t lived up to the $6.1MM cap hit he carried this season but will now lock in at a much more reasonable number for the next chunk of his career.

Still, this is a huge commitment from the Hurricanes and one that includes a ton of risk. The young forward has not taken a substantial step forward since entering the career as a teenager in 2018-19 and has just 11 goals and 23 points this season in limited minutes with the Hurricanes. Sure, he would likely see more offensive production if given more than the 12 minutes he averages for Carolina, but this isn’t the kind of player that usually earns an eight-year deal. Given the fact that the Hurricanes also had to forfeit first- and third-round picks as offer sheet compensation, they’ve sunk a huge amount of resources into this player already, without much to show for it.

There’s certainly a chance that he outproduces this contract, especially given the fact that Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter could both leave in unrestricted free agency, opening plenty of playing time at center and wing, but also no guarantee that he can play regular minutes in the top-six next season, at least not on a team as strong as Carolina. If not, the team is backing themselves into a corner with a contract of this length, one that would be hard to move if Kotkaniemi’s development falls flat.

In for a penny, in for a pound, though, as the Hurricanes commit to the young Finn and look to use him as a building block moving forward. He’s now signed longer than any player in the organization.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Jordan Martinook Expected Out A Few Weeks

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  • According to Carolina Hurricanes’ head coach Rod Brind’Amour, forward Jordan Martinook will be out of the lineup for a few weeks after being injured in Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs (link). Carolina expects to have Martinook back this season, however Hurricanes’ alternate captain is a key figure and leader in the locker room, so his absence, even if temporary, could prove costly to the team.

Hurricanes Activate Tony DeAngelo

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  • Also activated off of injured reserve was Carolina Hurricanes’ defenseman Anthony DeAngelo. The Hurricanes have been without DeAngelo since February 21st, and while they have not struggled the entire time, going 6-3-2, they have dropped their last three games, and hope that perhaps DeAngelo can provide a spark. That hope is certainly not unfounded, as DeAngelo has enjoyed a tremendous bounce-back season after a difficult 2020-21 with the New York Rangers. DeAngelo currently has nine goals and 31 assists in in 43 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Nino Niederreiter Receives One-Game Suspension

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The Department of Player Safety has made a quick decision regarding Carolina’s Nino Niederreiter.  They announced (video link) that the Hurricanes winger has been suspended for one game for his hit on Washington winger Axel Jonsson-Fjallby.

The incident occurred at 13:50 of the first period during Carolina’s 4-3 shootout loss on Friday.  He was assessed a minor penalty for slashing at the time.  Niederreiter was checked into Washington’s bench, losing his helmet along the way.  Once he had freed himself, he slashed the Capitals winger in the helmet.

In their video, it was noted that the minimal force that Niederreiter used to hit Jonsson-Fjallby is the sole reason why the suspension isn’t for longer than the one game.  Niederreiter will miss Sunday’s game against the Rangers and will be eligible to return to Carolina’s lineup on Tuesday against the Lightning.  He will forfeit $26.25K as a result of the suspension with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Nino Niederreiter To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The NHL Department of Player Safety announced this morning that Carolina Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter will have a hearing today for slashing Washington Capitals forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby during last night’s game.

The Hurricanes would go on to lose 4-3 in a shootout to Washington at home.

It’s important to note that this would be Niederreiter’s first career suspension. He’s really only come close to getting suspended once before in his lengthy career, but the league opted not to suspend him for this hit on Olli Maatta while he was a member of the Wild in 2015.

As Jordan Martinook sits out with an undisclosed injury, Carolina would need to recall a forward from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves if Niederreiter is suspended. They currently have no healthy extras at all on the active roster.

Trade Rumors: Hurricanes, Rangers, Capitals

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The Carolina Hurricanes are undoubtedly going to finish the season as Metropolitan Division champions, and they’re making a challenge for the Eastern Conference title and President’s Trophy as well. But unlike most contenders, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun says that the Hurricanes aren’t willing to deal their 2023 first-round selection at the deadline for a rental player. The Hurricanes have already surrendered their 2022 choice as compensation for signing Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an offer sheet last summer. While Carolina, based on the language of the tweet, is willing to move it for a player under contract, this likely takes them out of the conversation for rental defensemen such as Mark Giordano and Hampus Lindholm, who are sure to command first-round selections after Montreal received one in return for Ben Chiarot.

More trade rumors on this Saturday morning:

  • The Athletic’s Arthur Staple names Anaheim’s Rickard Rakell as “the most logical piece” for the New York Rangers to acquire at the deadline. Rakell, who has 16 goals and 12 assists in 51 games this season, wouldn’t fix the Rangers’ defensive issues in the slightest. But he would provide a more established scoring option for the Rangers to insert on the wing in the top six, and would help create better depth matchups for the third and fourth lines. While Alexis Lafreniere is performing solidly by most advanced metrics, the points aren’t coming for him despite playing alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. If acquired, Rakell could likely slot in there, allowing Lafreniere and Frank Vatrano to slot in on the third line when fully healthy.
  • While the Washington Capitals are still interested in goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir notes that general manager Brian McLellan is unwilling to move top prospects Connor McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre, or the team’s first-round selection in 2022 in any trade. It’s likely a smart move for Washington, who faces an already impossible path through the Eastern Conference playoff gauntlet, and it’s hard to imagine that acquiring Fleury would change that meaningfully. It’s a smarter bet to play on house money with this roster and retain the pick to help reload the team’s prospect pool.

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