Five-player blockbuster trade between Flames, Hurricanes adds spark to NHL draft weekend
Kevin Allen
DALLAS — Fans at the NHL draft didn’t see the string of trades that were expected, but they did get to cheer an old-fashioned blockbuster deal Saturday on Day 2.
Fans were hoping to see the Ottawa Senators deal Erik Karlsson. That didn't happen.
But new Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon made good on his promise that he would shake up his team by trading promising young defenseman Noah Hanifin and forward Elias Lindholm to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland and prospect defenseman Adam Fox.
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The draft crowd cheered lustily when the deal was announced.
On Day 1, the only player deal was between the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. The Caps moved goalie Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Brooks Orpik to clear cap space -- and that occurred about 30 minutes before the draft started.
The Hurricanes tried to negotiate new contracts with Hanifin and Lindholm, both restricted free agents, but they hadn’t made any real progress.
This deal could lead to others. The Hurricanes have been looking at trading Jeff Skinner, and the Montreal Canadiens may move Max Pacioretty. Now that Ilya Kovalchuk, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed to join the Los Angeles Kings, Skinner and Pacioretty are the most desirable scorers in the trade market.
Fox, an unsigned Harvard defenseman, is key to this deal because he has similar potential to Hanifin, 21. Hamilton is already a proven shot machine from the blue line, and Ferland scored 21 goals last season.
The Flames clearly are intrigued by Hanifin’s upside. He was taken in the draft ahead of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, though he hasn’t yet achieved Werenski's level of success.
Lindholm, 23, has shown he can put up 40 points, but the Flames believe he can do more.
