The Carolina Hurricanes are as soon as once more in acquainted territory. They introduced Friday, Nov. 15 that goaltender Frederik Andersen is out “method longer” than they thought. “The replace I used to be given is that we had been hoping that it was going to be week-to-week. Now I’d say it’s going to be method longer,” head coach Rod Brind’Amour stated at Lenovo Middle after the staff’s follow at this time. “Let’s simply depart it at that, as a result of I don’t have a lot to go on aside from it’s not week-to-week.”
This isn’t ultimate for the staff after Andersen began the season with a 3-1-0 file giving up simply six targets in 4 begins. He was carrying a .941 save share (second within the NHL) and a 1.48 goals-against common (NHL-best). Now they aren’t certain when he’ll return and so they have already recalled Spencer Martin to interchange him after Andersen acquired damage towards the Seattle Kraken. On the identical day, the Hurricanes additionally recalled Yaniv Perets from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) after Pyotr Kochetkov was introduced “uncertain” for the weekend with the staff having a back-to-back set.
If Andersen is out for a very long time once more, ought to the Hurricanes presumably search for reinforcements to assist Kochetkov within the web when he will get again to full well being? In the event that they do, there are two targets they might commerce for. Moreover, they’re acquainted faces to the franchise as nicely.
Anton Forsberg, Ottawa Senators
One possibility is Swedish netminder Anton Forsberg who was with the Canes throughout the 2019-20 season solely enjoying in three video games. At present, he’s within the closing 12 months of his three-year, $8.25 million deal which can see him turn into an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on the finish of the season. In seven begins for the Ottawa Senators in 2024-25, he has a 2.72 GAA and a .905 SV%. That is his greatest begin with the Senators because the 2021-22 season the place he completed with a 2.82 GAA and a .917 SV% in 46 begins. The 2011 187th total choose has been clawing his method by means of his total profession that’s seen him cease in Columbus, Chicago, Raleigh, and for the previous few seasons in Ottawa.
Whereas Forsberg has by no means been given the possibility to be a number-one netminder, he has discovered a technique to be a stable tandem goalie and/or a backup in a way. It’s unclear if he will probably be sticking across the Sens after the season since they prolonged Linus Ullmark to an eight-year deal. Additionally, the staff is ready for Mads Sogaard within the wings because the goalie of the long run.
Associated: Senators’ 3 Up, 3 Down: Offence Clicks, Forsberg Shines & Extra
Whereas discussing with The Hockey Writers’ Ottawa Senators author Jacob Billington, if the Senators have faith in Sogaard because the backup to Ullmark, there’s a likelihood that they might entertain a deal to ship Forsberg to the Hurricanes. By way of a commerce, we concluded that both a 3rd or fourth-round choose together with a mid-level prospect could possibly be one thing that may see the 31-year-old netminder return to the triangle as soon as once more. That being stated, that is what a commerce may doubtlessly appear like between the Senators and the Hurricanes:
Hurricanes Obtain:
G, Anton Forsberg
Senators Obtain:
F, Jayden Perron
2025 Third Spherical Choose (CAR)
Perron has two targets and 5 factors to date in 9 video games with the College of North Dakota. He may deliver some flexibility to the Senators’ high 9 and time for them to develop him since he’s solely 19 years outdated and nonetheless has to signal by Aug. 15, 2027, to his entry-level contract. There is no such thing as a clear indication that he may crack the Hurricanes lineup sooner or later with all the different top-end expertise in entrance of him, nonetheless, an opportunity with Ottawa might be one thing for him sooner or later. A 2025 third-round choose could possibly be a stable, right-now possibility for the Sens to seize one other prospect for the pipeline.
Whereas this could possibly be a rental for the Hurricanes, it’s a low-risk, greater reward to snag Forsberg for no less than the remainder of the season and see what occurs in 2025-26. For the Senators, it’s an opportunity to open a slot for Sogaard to again up Ullmark and be in a tandem with him for the following eight seasons after 2024-25. Moreover, it offers them two prospects for the pipeline to see what they’ve for the long run in Perron and whomever they choose on this summer season’s draft.
Alex Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh Penguins
The opposite potential possibility is former Calder Trophy finalist Alex Nedeljkovic. It might be a sweeter homecoming for the 2014 thirty seventh total choose by the Hurricanes to slip in for the following two seasons and tandem with Kochetkov since each netminders are beneath the age of 29. Nedeljkovic, 28, has a .884 SV% and a 3.21 GAA in 9 video games for the Penguins this season. Granted, he’s on a Penguins staff that couldn’t cease the District-5 Geese earlier than they acquired Adam Banks from the Hawks. Through the 2023-24 season, “Ned” had a 2.97 GAA and a .902 SV% in 38 begins. He has proven that with a correct staff in entrance of him, he generally is a stable tandem 1B or a bonified backup netminder.
Courting again to his time with the Hurricanes group, he received a Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers throughout the 2018-19 season after posting a 2.20 GAA and a .916 SV%. Whereas with the Hurricanes, he led the league with a .932 SV% and a 1.90 GAA throughout the 2020-21 season. Ned even completed third in Calder voting as a netminder, no much less. Nonetheless, the Canes on the time traded him to the Detroit Purple Wings after the 2 sides couldn’t come to a deal. However with the place the staff is now, there’s a risk of them reuniting and placing Ned behind one of many high three defenses within the NHL.
Associated: Penguins Re-Signal Alex Nedeljkovic to 2-Yr Contract
If the Canes commerce for Ned, he’ll turn into a UFA after the 2025-26 season when he’s 30 years outdated. His common annual worth (AAV) is simply $2.5 million which is simply $500,00 greater than Kochetkov’s AAV. Kochetkov and Nedeljkovic could possibly be a stable tandem for the Hurricanes till 2026 no less than and having the previous meet the current with each netminders being Canes merchandise at one time or one other.
When discussing a commerce with The Hockey Writers‘ Pittsburgh Penguins author Zach Alvarado, he acknowledged that the Penguins will need prospects and/or draft capital. They’d most likely search a fourth, fifth, and mid-level prospect in the event that they add a participant to the deal. If no participant is added, possibly a 3rd and fourth. If the Canes can swing a few picks for Ned for a season and a half (or extra) that could possibly be a super transfer for them. That being stated, here’s a potential commerce between the Penguins and the Hurricanes:
Hurricanes Obtain:
G, Alex Nedjelkovic
Penguins Obtain:
2025 Third-Spherical Choose (CAR)
2026 Fourth-Spherical Choose (CAR)
Similar to the Senators deal, the 2025 third is expendable because the Hurricanes have two third-rounders within the 2025 NHL Draft. Including the 2026 fourth-rounder will give them the flexibleness to not commerce two picks in the identical draft if they’re able to achieve this. In the event that they must, then it wouldn’t be the tip of the world. Both method, if the Hurricanes can deliver again Ned by solely giving up two draft picks, that’ll be a stable commerce for them to get a robust tandem netminder who has performed in Carolina earlier than.
Keep the Course or Name In Reinforcements?
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see what the Hurricanes do with Andersen out for “method longer” than week-to-week. In the event that they make a commerce, there are stable choices on the market. Nonetheless, in the event that they assume simply by ready for Kochetkov to be again in a few days and run it with him and Martin, that could be a risk as nicely. It’s simply not ultimate to be again right here as soon as once more with Andersen out for a very long time and figuring it out on the fly. Both method, the Hurricanes at all times determine one thing out with their goaltending scenario. It will likely be a scenario to keep watch over as the times and weeks go by.
