After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2022-23 regular season, which starts Oct. 7. Today, the Carolina Hurricanes:
2021-22 season: 54-20-8, first in Metropolitan Division; lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key arrivals
Brent BurnsD: The 37-year-old was acquired with forward Lane Pederson in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on July 13 for a forward Steven Lorentzgoalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Burns had 54 points (10 goals, 44 assists) and was third in the NHL averaging 26:09 in ice time in 82 games last season. … Max PaciorettyF: The 33-year-old was acquired with defenseman Dylan Coghlan in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for future considerations July 13. Pacioretty had 37 points (19 goals, 18 assists) last season when he was limited to 39 games due to a lower-body injury and wrist surgery. … Ondrej KaseF: The 26-year-old, who signed a one-year contract July 13, had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 50 regular-season games and three assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. … Dylan Coghlan, D: The 24-year-old had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 59 regular-season games with Vegas last season. … Lane Pederson, F: The 24-year-old had two assists in 29 games with the Sharks last season and 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 22 games with San Jose of the American Hockey League.
Video: Burns traded to Hurricanes for Lorentz, more
Key departures
Vincent TrocheckF: He signed a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers on July 13 after he had 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 81 regular-season games and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 14 playoff games last season. … Tony DeAngeloD: He could have become a restricted free agent but was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft and a second-round pick in the 2024 draft on July 8 and signed a two-year contract with the Flyers on July 11. DeAngelo had 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists) in 64 regular-season games and 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 14 playoff games last season. … Nino NiederreiterF: He signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators on July 21 after he was third on Carolina with 24 goals and sixth in points with 44 in 75 regular-season games last season and had five points (four goals, one assist) in 14. playoff games. … Max DomiF: He signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 13. Domi had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 19 regular-season games after being acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 21 and had six points. (three goals, three assists) in 14 playoff games last season. … Steven Lorentz, F: He had 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 67 regular-season games last season and no points in five playoff games. … Ian ColeD: He signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 13 after scoring 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 75 regular-season games and two points (one goal, one assist) in 14 playoff games last season. … Brendan SmithD: He signed a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 13 after scoring eight points (four goals, four assists) in 45 regular-season games and four points (one goal, four assists) in 14 playoff games last season. … Derek StepanF: An unrestricted free agent, Stepan had 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 58 regular-season games and no points in three playoff games last season.
On the cusp
Pyotr Kochetkov, G: The 23-year-old, who was selected in the second round (No. 36) of the 2019 NHL Draft, was 3-0-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .902 save percentage in three NHL regular-season games (two starts ) with the Hurricanes and went 1-2 with a 3.89 GAA and .869 save percentage in four playoff games (one start). Kochetkov was 13-1-1 with a 2.09 GAA and .921 save percentage in 15 regular-season games with Chicago of the American Hockey League and helped them win the Calder Cup. … Jack Drury, F: The 22-year-old, who was selected in the second round (No. 42) of the 2018 NHL Draft, played his first two NHL games with Carolina last season and scored a goal in each. Drury had 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 68 AHL regular-season games with Chicago and 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 18 playoff games.
What they still need
Depth on defense. The Hurricanes added Burns and Coughlan, but lost DeAngelo, Cole and Smith, who each played in every game in the playoffs last season.
They said it
“This team is really, really close. I’ve been on teams that are close and you’re just one or two pieces away when you’re that close or you’re one game away. You just need to add one or two guys and that helps out your depth tremendously.” — Hurricanes forward Max Pacioretty
Fantasy focus
The Hurricanes landed two fringe top 50 overall fantasy players in Pacioretty and Burns in separate trades. Pacioretty, who led the Golden Knights in points per game (1.01; 88 points in 87 games) over the past two seasons, could play on the first line with elite center. Sebastian Aho and/or bring exposure to valuable wing Andrei Svechnikov in the top six. Pacioretty boosts a power play that now also features Burns, who should be considered a top 10-15 fantasy defenseman option again. Burns leads NHL defensemen in goals (130), points (489 in 618 games) and shots on goal (2,116) and is fourth at the position in power-play points (175) since moving back to defense for the Sharks in 2014-15. . — Pete Jensen
Video: Pacioretty, Coghlan traded to Hurricanes
Projected lineup
Max Pacioretty — Sebastian Aho — Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov — Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Teuvo Teravainen
Ondrej Kase — Jordan Staal — Jesper Fast
Jordan Martinook — Lane Pederson — Martin Necas
Jacob Slavin — Brent Burns
Brady Skjei — Brett Pesce
Ethan Bear — Dylan Coghlan
Frederik Andersen
Antti Raanta
Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Friedman / Carolina Hurricanes
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