Exploring Trade Options for a Right Shot D: Carolina Hurricanes

In my second look at a team that might have a right handed defencemen available for trade, I focus on the Carolina Hurricanes.

In order to make sure we are coming from a shared reference point, I desperately want the Oilers to fix their D, especially on the right side. I have been telling this to anybody and everybody that will listen since before Hall was drafted. “We need a solid top four defence core.” Yet here I wait, and I am not alone for that call. Here are the Oilers’ needs in my opinion.

1. Top pairing 5×5 right shot defenceman
2. Legitimate right shot powerplay option
3. If unable to aquire the above two, at least two more right shot defensemen in the top 6 (preferably top 4)

The Carolina Hurricanes’ roster and cap situation is dramatically different from that of the Minnesota Wild. They have a ton of cap space–capfriendly.com has them committed to just under $39 million to 14 roster players for the 2016-17 season. Carolina also has 13 picks in the first 3 rounds of the next 2 drafts. So Carolina has cap space and picks> What do they need then? I will admit that I am not very knowledgeable on the specifics of their team as I have only caught parts of about a half-dozen Hurricanes games this year. However when I look through the fancy stats and the blogs on the Hurricanes, I would think their shopping list is not far from this;

1. First line center
2. First line left wing
3. New 3rd or 4th liner, likely with veteran leadership
4. Possibly a veteran defenceman (depending on James Wisniewski’s health)
5. Goalie to compete for starts with Eddie Lack

Once again these needs are subject to my limited knowledge of the team. If Carolina wants to make the playoffs next year I would expect them to be active this summer. Add in the fact that their strength–aside from cap space and picks–is that they seemingly have a gold mine of young defenceman. Here is their Depth chart by 5×5 time on ice.

1. Hainsey
2. Hanifan
3. Faulk (right shot)
4. Pesce (right shot)
5. Slavin
6. Jordan
7. Murphy (right shot)
8. Wisneiwski (right shot)
9. Carrick
10. Fleury
11. Mckeown (right shot)

The first seven are all in the NHL. The eighth is on IR. And the bottom 3 are in the minors or junior. In my opinion, this is their area of strength. Carolina also seemingly has a higher than average amount of right shot defencemen. Let’s now narrow down our focus to what the Oilers need.

Sorted by 5×5 TOI stats provided by stats.hockeyanalysis.com

Above chart is 5×4 power play

Two players on those lists stick out to me as potential targets for the right side: Ryan Murphy and Justin Faulk. The cost to acquire and how high up on the Oilers list they would be, to me, are very different. Murphy is more of a reclamation or new opportunity project. Can the Oilers handle that with their current defensive setup? Likely not, but he could be a buy low target. I am not sure what the cost would be, but I don’t think it would be high, possibly even a trade of Lauri Korpikoski for him or even a minor league player. I am not a fan of Korpikoski and his cap hit on the Oilers roster. I would rather have nothing than have him on the Oilers’ team.

There is definitely one player that fits the Oilers needs but I think it would take a deal involving Nugent Hopkins or Taylor Hall. Is it worth it? What would that look like as a full deal?

Faulk is heck of a player for Carolina. He is in year 2 of a 6 year contract extension at a cap hit of $4.83 Million. I am not sure where he would rate in Woodguy‘s recent list of defencemen, but he certainly looks to me like he is a top 2 defenceman who can spark your powerplay. I will continue my search but I don’t imagine the list in front of Faulk is that long of fits for the Oilers. I will end this report with a scouting Report on Faulk.