NHL Insider suggests surprise trade between the Flames and Hurricanes

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Tom Banks
July 15, 2024 (5:23 PM)

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The Calgary Flames suddenly have the most cap space in the NHL, and according to one insider, they should use that in a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.

It was just three years ago that the Carolina Hurricanes tendered an offer sheet to then Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and it's safe to say they were proud of the move on social media.

Now, after inking him to an eight-year deal, the team seriously regret the move, and The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek has proposed a deal with the Calgary Flames that would allow them to move off his cap hit. In his recent piece, Duhatschek suggested that the Calgary Flames should reach out to Carolina about Kotkaniemi, using their almost $20 million of salary cap space to take on his $4.82M AAV hit for the next five-years.

Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, they wouldn't be doing this and getting something in return, but would instead need to add an asset or two to make it worth Calgary's while, but with the team needing help down the middle, it's a move that makes sense. Currently, the Flames centers project to be Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund, Connor Zary and Kevin Rooney, so even if he isn't the hottest name in the league, the addition of Kotkaniemi would help with depth.

On top of that, the Flames could potentially turn him around with extended playing time and flip him for a future asset with salary retained, and given how aggressive Craig Conroy has been in getting future assets, don't be surprised if this is something they look into.

Source: Hockey Feed
Insider proposes trade between Flames and Hurricanes.