After nearly ten years without playoff hockey, the Carolina Hurricanes are used to being sellers at the annual NHL trade deadline. Recent years have seen the likes of Viktor Stalberg, Ron Hainsey, John-Michael Liles, Eric Staal and Kris Versteeg depart Raleigh ahead of the deadline, making for playoff-bound pastures new.
This year, the Canes are in the thick of an exciting playoff race, sitting just one point outside a wildcard spot but being – statistically – the best team in the Eastern Conference since calendars turned to 2019. However, any loss of form now could lead to the Carolina Hurricanes dropping out of playoff contention very quickly.