Hurricanes stirring up trade winds
NHL notebook: In last place in the East, Carolina setting the stage for a fire sale by the February deadline
OTTAWA — The Carolina Hurricanes could be ready to hang up the “For Sale” sign with their roster.
Talk around the NHL suggests GM Ron Francis is pretty much willing to discuss everybody in a potential trade with the exception of a few of the club’s young players.
“Ideally, there’s a handful of players they’d keep,” said a league executive.
The names the Hurricanes would like to move are familiar. At the top of the list is winger Jeff Skinner, but he has four years left at $5.725 million per season on a deal that runs through 2018-19. We’re told Carolina would even be willing to give a prospect as part of a package to get Skinner’s contract off the books.
A decision on captain Eric Staal and goalie Cam Ward must be made before the February trade deadline as well. Both are unrestricted free agents next summer and many don’t believe there’s much chance that one or both will be back, especially if the Hurricanes wants Staal to take less money and shorter term.
Coach Bill Peters, who may be feeling the heat, scratched veteran forwards Kris Versteeg and Riley Nash against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. Nobody in Carolina is happy with the club’s lousy record — the Canes were mired in the Eastern Conference basement heading into Saturday’s play — and Peters is clearly trying to send a message with those decisions.
“It’s my decision, for sure. We need a different look,” Peters told the Raleigh News and Observer on Saturday morning.
If this keeps up, the Hurricanes could have a much different look after the deadline.
OFF THE GLASS
Three teams will have big decisions to make on key players before the trade deadline: Winnipeg, Arizona and Boston. The Jets have to decide what to do with defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, the Coyotes need to determine if they’ll sign winger Mikkel Boedker and the Bruins have a similar dilemma with forward Loui Eriksson. All three players are set to become UFAs next summer, all are going to attract attention on the open market and their teams are all in the mix for playoff spots at the moment. A team that may take a run at Byfuglien is the Florida Panthers. GM Dale Tallon is a huge fan of the big blue-liner and the Panthers will have defenceman Brian Campbell’s hefty contract off their books next year.
Calgary GM Brad Treliving has been working the phones hard with his club struggling. While teams would like to acquire UFA forward Jiri Hudler or defenceman Kris Russell for a run to the playoffs, the Flames may need to sign both players before deciding whether they’ll make a move. Both are going to be valuable pieces to contenders ... The biggest decision the Leafs are going to have to make is on goalie James Reimer. Making $2.3 million in the last year of his contract, he’ll be a UFA on July 1. Teams are going to call at the deadline and Jonathan Bernier has struggled to the point that he’s currently on a conditioning stint with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
THIS ‘N’ THAT
Anaheim GM Bob Murray has been doing a lot of talking and would like to do something to shake up his struggling club. The issue: Nobody is sure exactly what is needed. There just doesn’t seem to be any urgency despite the Ducks’ struggles to get back on track. Anaheim wouldn’t mind moving wingers Andrew Cogliano and Patrick Maroon, but there’s not a huge marketplace for those two players and nobody is sure how much they’ll get in return. If the Ducks are serious about moving D Cam Fowler, then Murray might be able to get a good return ... The Blue Jackets are looking for a Top 4 defenceman in exchange for prospect forward Kerby Rychel. The 21-year-old, a No. 19-overall selection in 2013, has suited up for 10 games and has three assists, but many believe the asking price is far too high. The teams that have topend blue-liners want a lot in return because of the demand that currently exists around the league.
RUMOURS DU JOUR
Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is looking to make changes and RW Jordan Eberle is a prominent name said to be on the market, but it sure sounds like it will be difficult for Edmonton to make a significant move before the deadline. Since Chiarelli likes his teams to play hard (see the Bruins for details), he’ll want to change the mix with the Oilers at some point. The only way for the Oilers to move the 25-year-old Eberle and his $6-million cap hit that runs until 2018-19 is if Edmonton is willing to take back a player or two to even up the money. Ideally, the Oilers want a good, young player in return with plenty of upside. Several teams believe that’s an off-season deal for Chiarelli.
There is interest in Chicago D Trevor Daley, who’s got a cap hit of $3.3 million through next season. While he went into the weekend with no goals in 26 games, a few teams believe if Daley, 32, is given a change of scenery, he might thrive. He was an important player in Dallas under coach Lindy Ruff, but that has changed under Chicago’s Joel Quenneville. It can be tough to change Quenneville’s mind if you don’t make a good first impression and Daley has struggled with the Hawks. He is being used in a third-pairing role and if moved could get the chance to play a top-four role. That may be why Chicago GM Stan Bowman has set a high asking price: a second-round pick and prospect.