Fansided

5 teams that didn’t do enough at the NHL Trade Deadline

By Griffin Youngs

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers listens to the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers listens to the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – DECEMBER 31: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes participates in the Storm Surge with teammates after a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL game on December 31, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – DECEMBER 31: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes participates in the Storm Surge with teammates after a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL game on December 31, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes, for the first time in over a decade, are the talk of the NHL. Not only are they threatening to make the playoff for the first time since 2009, they have also lit the dinosaurs of the hockey community ablaze with rage with their post game celebrations. The ‘Storm Surge’ has given the Hurricanes organization and fans alike a cause to rally around, regardless who calls it heresy to the snoozefest that is hockey culture.

Beyond the team having fun, the Hurricanes are also neck-and-neck in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and currently find themselves tied for third in the Metropolitan division with 74 points. With so many years of futility in their wake and plenty of assets to spend, wouldn’t it be nice to send a message to the players and fans that you’re going to do everything you can to make the playoffs this year? Apparently not.

The Hurricanes had several bargaining chips to use in their favor at the deadline, but instead elected to use none of them and stand pat. Carolina was surrounded by trade rumors all season long, and eyes around the league were watching them closely. Whether it ranged from moving Michael Ferland, who the team is having trouble getting to sign an extension thanks to how much money he’s requesting, or moving one of their several defensemen for scoring help on offense.

The only move the Hurricanes made leading up to the deadline was trading Cliff Pu for future considerations. This is the same Cliff Pu who was the only prospect they received in return for Jeff Skinner from Buffalo (who they could really use right now), putting the final nail in the coffin on that terrible trade.

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Carolina didn’t have to do anything at the deadline considering their window of playoff contention is ahead of schedule, and they are a deep team on offense and defense, but the fact that they did nothing at all just so they can push hard to make the playoffs is a loss. At the very least, getting a goalie would have been much appreciated, considering that their entire season has hinged on their ability to get a save when they need it.

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