The Carolina Hurricanes made some significant changes to the defense this past offseason. Calvin De Haan was traded away to the Chicago Blackhawks along with Forward Aleksi Saarela in exchange for Defenseman Gustav Forsling and Goalie Anton Forsberg. With Forsling logging mostly AHL minutes, it is likely that the Canes now have a spot open on Defense for someone new to step up.
This opens up an opportunity for AHL defenseman Jake Bean. With Bean scoring 13 goals and 44 points this past season with the Checkers, expect him to be the favorite to land the 6th defenseman spot.