The Carolina Hurricanes have not qualified for the postseason for nine years, and through games of Jan. 6, sat seven points out of the playoffs. But the franchise is loaded with prospects and draft picks (Buffalo’s second-rounder this year and a third-rounder next year, among others) that could be packaged for proven veterans to address the team’s biggest weakness – offensive punch.
If the team can extend this hot streak and climb back into contention before the 3 p.m., Feb. 25 trade deadline, then aggressively pursuing some offensive help would make sense.
But if the team reverts to its old ways – following up winning streaks with losing streaks – GM Don Waddell will have to walk a fine line between mortgaging the team’s future for a quick fix that still might not be enough to get the team over the hump.