In an exhilarating turn of events, the Carolina Hurricanes are fresh off a shootout victory against the Colorado Avalanche, who are currently reigning over the Central Division of the Western Conference with 13 points. The Canes seem unstoppable this season, as they secure one win after another, having fallen once so far this season, against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
As the Hurricanes prepare to meet the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center, an insider has shed light on their exciting, albeit unsuccessful, moves off the ice. The offseason belonged to the Canes; Most notably, the team acquired Nikolaj Ehlers. However, the Hurricanes have not always gotten who they wanted.
Insider Gets Honest About the Carolina Hurricanes’ Futile Pursuit of NHL Superstar
The memory of Kirill Kaprizov’s never-ending contract negotiations is still fresh in fans’ minds. The grueling back-and-forth ended with the biggest contract the NHL has ever seen, and while the number sparked debates across social media and among analysts, the mammoth deal cemented Kaprizov’s place in the Minnesota Wild for the near future.
However, there is no denying that trade speculation surrounding Kaprizov had reached a fever pitch amid prolonged negotiations. Pierre LeBrun flatly stated that the Wild management would have never agreed to bid their franchise cornerstone goodbye, but that did not stop other teams from considering the prospect of acquiring the star winger.
“Per league sources, they reached out to the Minnesota Wild last month expressing interest in Kirill Kaprizov after he turned down the Wild’s first contract offer,” wrote LeBrun for the Athletic.
LeBrun further wrote that Kaprizov is not the only winger the Canes were eyeing; the Carolina front office had also unsuccessfully pursued Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner. According to the insider, the Canes were willing to spend generously on any of the three standout wingers. “They would have swung big for him — just like they swung for Mikko Rantanen last year and tried for Mitch Marner in the offseason.”
So are the Hurricanes still looking to add more gems to their roster? Perhaps not. Firstly, the league’s best players have already been taken, having signed extensions. Moreover, the Canes have an enviable roster, evidenced by one victory after another. “They viewed Kaprizov as a unique target, but with all the big names around the league having now extended, there’s nothing on the market that makes sense. And they feel they have a very deep lineup already.”
LeBrun argued in his piece that goaltending is possibly the only department where the Canes could improve. However, the team seems confident in its current netminding corps, and with their record this season so far, there is enough reason to be.
