Hurricanes will reportedly trade top-four defenceman if they're unable to sign him to an extension
The Carolina Hurricanes have yet to make it past the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2006 and are 0-12 in their last 12 Eastern Conference Final games.
This summer, the organization is determined to do whatever it takes to improve their roster to ensure that they'll return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 18 years and on the top of their agenda is to sign defenceman Brett Pesce to a contract extension.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, if the Hurricanes are unable to sign Pesce to a contract extension this summer, they'll be looking to trade him and one team that has expressed interest already is the Buffalo Sabres. Darren Dreger also added that the Edmonton Oilers are interested in Pesce.
He added, "Among the teams, I'm told that have already reached out on Brett Pesce: the Buffalo Sabres, who have made a priority as Dregs has reported before of going out and getting a top-four D. They have interest in Pesce."
The Tarrytown, New York native is coming off the best season of his career, statistically. Pesce set a new career-high in points (30), goals (5) and assists (25), while adding 43 penalty minutes and was a plus-11 in 82 games. He added six points in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Pesce, 28, will be entering the final year of his contract next season that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $4.025 million. If the Hurricanes turn their attention towards trading Pesce, there won't be a shortage of suitors, nor will there be any difficulty moving him as his contract has no trade restrictions.
Source: Pierre LeBrun - TSN's Insider Trading
| POLL | ||
What should the Hurricanes do with Pesce this summer? | ||
| Extend him long-term | 7 | 13.7 % |
| Extend him on a shorter-term deal | 10 | 19.6 % |
| Trade him | 30 | 58.8 % |
| See Results | 4 | 7.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
