Carolina Hurricanes Eyeing Anaheim’s Cam Fowler…
The NHL offseason has been extending right up to training camp in recent years. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been making moves, and the Anaheim Ducks are also open for business. Although the Carolina Hurricanes have a full roster, first-year GM Eric Tulsky may still have some changes in mind.
The Hurricanes are near the salary cap limit with just $79,913 left in space, but Anaheim has flexibility, with almost $21 million available. The Ducks are reportedly shopping veteran defenseman Cam Fowler, a 32-year-old who has spent 14 seasons with Anaheim after being drafted 12th overall in 2010. Fowler has a $6.5 million cap hit for this season and the next.
Despite offseason losses like Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, and Tony DeAngelo, Tulsky managed to retain Jalen Chatfield and sign free agents Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere. Carolina is well-stocked on defense, but key players like Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns will be without contracts after this season.
Alexander Nikishin, a left-handed defenseman, is expected to make the jump to the NHL, but the Hurricanes will have to wait for his KHL contract to expire. His transition could take time. On the right side, Scott Morrow, who played two games last season, could also step up.
Acquiring Fowler could provide Carolina with a replacement for Orlov and bolster their power play. While Fowler is not known for his defensive skills, his numbers have been better on stronger Anaheim teams, though it’s been a while since the Ducks were competitive.
Tulsky might explore creative options with Anaheim, given their cap flexibility. Instead of the Ducks retaining part of Fowler’s contract, Anaheim could take on a larger contract from Carolina, such as that of Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The young forward, under contract until 2030 with a $4.82 million annual cap hit, could fit into Anaheim’s rebuild and add veteran leadership.
This deal would allow Carolina to shed Kotkaniemi’s contract, giving them more room for future moves, including potential trade deadline deals.
