The Vancouver Canucks entered this season with hopes of starting the season off with a new outlook after changing head coaches in the offseason. Unfortunately, that has not happened as they have been on a downward spiral that looks to only continue. Due to the lack of success to start the season, the trade rumors have begun to swirl as the Canucks look to start the fire sale sooner rather than later. Their highest-valued trade piece on the roster is captain Bo Harvat, and a Stanley Cup contender should be calling soon if they haven’t already.
Mike Johnson suggested on TSN that, “There is absolutely a perfect match out there, and a team that is going for the Cup this year, the Carolina Hurricanes. The second-line center right now is Jesperi Kotkaniemi. He’s not getting it done offensively the way they want, replacing Vincent Trocheck”.
The Hurricanes have felt the loss of Trocheck this season after he bolted for the New York Rangers during free agency. They attempted to replace him with Kotkaniemi, but somehow he only has one goal and three points in 16 games, while both his linemates lead the team in goals and points. Winger Andrei Svechnikov has been lights out, tallying 12 goals and 18 points, while youngster Martin Necas has contributed seven goals and 19 points. If Carolina is able to add another scoring threat on the line to replace the underperforming Kotkaniemi, it will do wonders for a team looking to establish itself in a crowded and deep Eastern Conference.
Johnson also stated how the team is willing to make a big swing if the time is right, as management understands the playoff window for their core is now. Carolina already made big splashes in the offseason by acquiring Max Pacioretty and Brent Burns to bolster their defense and scoring, respectively.
Carolina currently sits second in the Metropolitan Division with a 10-5-2 record, trailing the New Jersey Devils by six points. While it is still early in the season, the time is now for the Hurricanes to act on Horvat, as getting him into the lineup now would allow the lines to build the chemistry needed to make a deep playoff run. The Metro is also up in the air as the Devils have been a total shock, and even the New York Islanders, who sit at 22 points, have kept themselves in the talks early on while teams like Pittsburgh and Washington have struggled.
