The 2026 NHL Trade deadline has come and gone. While a number of trades were completed, some of the big names, such as Vincent Trocheck and Robert Thomas, stayed with their current teams. The Carolina Hurricanes were linked to several players over the last few weeks heading into deadline day. However, with it being a “seller’s market” and asking prices being too high, they made only one move, adding left-winger Nicolas Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Adding Grit & Physicality
The Hurricanes were able to acquire Deslauriers from the Flyers for a 2027 conditional seventh-round pick. As of now, the conditions on the pick for Deslauriers are tied to how far the team gets in the postseason. The pick won’t upgrade, but the condition is whether it’s even sent at all. Either way, the Hurricanes have added the grit people around the hockey world have said they’ve needed for the last few seasons. In two Eastern Conference Final appearances over the last three playoffs, it was clear that they needed some toughness in their lineup. Well, now they’ve got that with Deslauriers.
Related: 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
After acquiring the 35-year-old LaSalle, Quebec native, general manager Eric Tulsky stated, “This adds depth and experience to our forward group. Nicolas is a strong, physical player who plays with an edge, factors that become even more important as we get to the postseason.” Per Hurricanes beat writer Walt Ruff, Deslauriers is ranked third among active players with 90 major penalties over his NHL tenure. Only Ryan Reaves (97) and Tom Wilson (96) have more.
Desauriers is in the final year of his four-year, $7 million deal which pays him $1.75 million annually and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. This is no more than a physical rental deal to help with the playoffs in certain matchups. Essentially, if the Hurricanes met the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final, they have their own big guy to counter their heavy hitters.
In 115 games over the last three seasons, Deslauriers has three goals and eight points. In 24 games this season, he has averaged 8:04 of 5-on-5 ice time and has one assist. Over his entire career, split between the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and the Flyers, he has tallied 53 goals, 105 points, and 794 penalty minutes in 701 games.
During the post-trade deadline press conference, Tulsky stated, “The things we were looking at, the prices that were out there we felt would be step back in the near future and going forward.” Where the Hurricanes are going into the 2026-27 season, all 12 forwards outside of Mark Jankowski and now Deslauriers are signed next season. Furthermore, all of their defenseman, outside of restricted free agent Alexander Nikishin, are signed. If they felt like there was no need to force a trade, a depth move seemed to be the play.
Related: Too Many Risks for the Hurricanes to Acquire Elias Pettersson
Tulsky also stated that with most of the players who became available during the last few hours of the deadline, they felt comfortable without having to make a trade. In the end, it’s better not to make a trade just to make a trade if it’s a step back for next season and beyond. It would have been good to see them upgrade the second-line center position; however, it seems like sellers were asking too much.
In the end, the Hurricanes added the grit they’ve needed for deep playoff runs. It’ll be interesting to see how much fans will see him during the last 21 games of the regular season, including Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers. He’s been a healthy scratch most of the season for the Flyers and he will join Jesperi Kotkaniemi as the extra forwards for head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s team. Either way, they made a move, and it’s for much-needed playoff grit. Now the focus is on the last 21 games until the playoffs begin.
