Overview

• The Carolina Hurricanes acted as a third-party in the Maple Leafs' acquisition of defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Anaheim, taking on 25% of his contract.
• Despite using cap space for a late-round pick, the Hurricanes maintain nearly $5.9 million in cap space for additional moves before the trade deadline.
• Carolina's front office, led by Don Waddell, is known for strategic deadline decisions, focusing on offseason team building rather than overpaying for rentals.
• The Hurricanes are exploring options to bolster their forward ranks, with a focus on adding depth to the bottom six.
• Several teams, including the Blackhawks, Sharks, Ducks, Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Senators, Canadiens, Sabres, and more, are potential trade partners for Carolina.