Carolina Hurricanes place former NHL award winner on waivers on January 11th 2025

The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the NHL's best teams over the past few seasons, and while they're yet to experience Stanley Cup Playoffs success, their regular season performances come on the back of great depth and balance.

That balance is now being shown off once more as the team has officially waived 24-year-old Ty Smith, whom they hope will pass through waivers so he can head back to the AHL's Chicago Wolves after solid performances at that level in 2024/25.

The former first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils started his career red-hot back in 2020/21, being named to the All-Rookie first team that season after posting 23 points in 48 games played for the New Jersey Devils.

Since that point however, he's struggled to catch on, spending all of last season and the start of 2024/25 in the AHL with Wilkes/Barre-Scranton and now Chicago before getting called up to the Hurricanes this year.

In 8 games played with the 'Canes, Smith has posted 1 goal and 2 points alongside a +1 differential, showing his fantastic depth for a team that has arguably the best blue line in the entire NHL.

In 131 games played at the NHL level, Smith has performed reasonably well in every one, tallying 9 goals and 49 points across four seasons, and at 24 years of age, he still has a very bright future.

Only time will tell if he gets back to the NHL this season, but given how deep the Hurricanes are looking to go in 2024/25 if injuries or struggles arise, he'll no doubt be a solid piece to call upon if he can pass through waivers.