The National Hockey League\u2019s trade deadline is less than a month away.<\/p>\n
With the Calgary Flames almost certain to miss the playoffs, it should be time to officially kick off the rebuild and add to an already impressive farm system. They\u2019ve already moved pending unrestricted free agent Rasmus Andersson<\/a>, but they still have a handful of veterans that can net them a sizable package.<\/p>\n Trading at this time of year is always complicated, as playoff contenders are more than often near the cap ceiling, but not the Carolina Hurricanes. In the first edition of Meet the Buyers, we\u2019ll look at the Hurricanes\u2019 needs, their cap situation, and\u00a0 what they have to offer the Flames.<\/p>\n Hurricanes needs and cap situationLet\u2019s get the cap situation out of the way first. As it stands, they have over $25 million in current space after accruing cap throughout the season. By the deadline, it\u2019s projected they\u2019ll have over $40 million, all of this thanks to Puckpedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n They can easily absorb the contract of Kadri ($7 million until after the 2028-29 season), Coleman ($4.9 million until the end of the 2026-27 season), Weegar ($6.25 million until after the 2030-31 season), and Whitecloud ($2.75 million until the end of the 2027-28 season).<\/p>\n On Feb. 7, The Athletic\u2019s Harman Dayal<\/a> released an article looking at seven teams that need to make a move. Of course, the Flames were there, but so too were the Hurricanes, with their specific need being a second line centre.Enter Nazem Kadri, right? Well, Sportsnet\u2019s Nick Kypreos reported<\/a> earlier this season that Kadri included the Hurricanes on his 13-team no trade list, which is a bit of a problem. Of course, the 35-year-old centre could end up waiving that as the Hurricanes are a legitimate contender, but it does pose a problem.<\/p>\n Kadri\u2019s play has regressed in 2025-26, scoring just 10 goals and 39 points over 56 games, which is on pace for just 14 goals and 57 points over an 82-game season, well down from his 35 goals and 67 points in 2024-25.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that the Flames are reportedly looking for a Brock Nelson-type haul<\/a> to get this trade done. Before the 2025 trade deadline, the Avalanche sent prospect Calum Ritchie, a 2026 first round pick, a 2027 third round pick, and former Flame Oliver Kylington for the then-pending UFA.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes have less of a need for a middle six winger like Coleman, but adding some grit, championship pedigree, and some five-on-five scoring in the playoffs is never a bad thing. Defence isn\u2019t a huge need either, but adding Weegar would give them another top four defenceman, despite Weegar\u2019s struggles in 2025-26. It\u2019s worth noting that the Hurricanes were reported to be in on Andersson, so who knows.<\/p>\n What the Hurricanes have to offerThe Flames\u2019 biggest need in their prospect pool are centres. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes are lacking down the middle. Their top centre prospect according to Daily Faceoff\u2019s top prospect list<\/a> is Ivan Ryabkin, who ranked as their sixth-best prospect.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ryabkin didn\u2019t have a great go of things in the American Hockey League, scoring a goal and seven points in 25 games. Recently, he joined the Qu\u00e9bec Maritimes Junior Hockey League\u2019s Charlottetown islanders, where he has three goals and 11 points in seven games.<\/p>\n Their best prospects are either defencemen or wingers, with Bradley Nadeau being the highest-ranked forward. Nikita Artamonov and Felix Unger S\u00f6rum are two other wingers of note, while right-shot defenceman Dominik Badinka has five goals and nine points in 40 AHL games.<\/p>\n For picks, the Hurricanes own the Dallas Stars first rounder this year, as well as a fourth and two sixths. In the 2027 draft, the Hurricanes have their first and second, as well as two third-round picks, while also owning two first round picks in 2028.<\/p>\n There\u2019s certainly a pathway for the Hurricanes and Flames to link up on a trade at some point before Mar. 6\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n