In recent days, Jesperi Kotkaniemi's name had gained significant momentum in the pre-Olympic trade whirlwind.
Despite being under contract until 2030, Jesperi Kotkaniemi had drawn the ire of hockey media and his own head coach Rod Brind'Amour. His offensive struggles are noted, but it's also his inability to find a permanent role in a constantly-evolving Cup contender that is influencing the growth of the storm that is Jesperi Kotkaniemi's trade rumours.
If I'm going to crack a hurricane joke, let's call it a Category 3 storm. Not only is there enough to justify the rumours, but it could also lead to a whirlwind of moves that potentially gives Carolina pole position in the Eastern Conference playoffs. PuckPedia projects that Carolina sits just over $8 million below the salary cap, which is the most cap space for any current division leader (Tampa Bay is $1.5 million above the cap, Colorado is $2 million below it, while Vegas is a whopping $11 million above the cap). Moving Kotkaniemi's contract would give Carolina $13 million in cap space, which would all but solidify the Hurricanes as the team to watch at the deadline.
At this stage you might be asking me how the New York Rangers fit into all this? You'll note that I've gone on and on about Carolina's cap maneuvering and their Cup-or-bust situation and whatnot.
With regard to the New York Rangers, the big name to watch for them at the deadline is going to be Artemi Panarin, who is set to hit free agency this offseason. The New York Rangers' loss to the Ottawa Senators condemned the team to last place in the Eastern Conference, one point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets and three back of the Senators. While the season isn't exactly over, teams like Boston and Buffalo, both of whom hold a playoff spot entering Thursday's NHL action, haven't been dropping many games at a row, if at all. At the same time, the Rangers haven't exactly been winning many games in a row, if at all.
As for Artemi Panarin, he's on pace for a ninety point season; it would be the fourth in the last five seasons if he gets it done. Considering his performance, the Rangers' situation, and the fact Panarin is hitting free agency, it makes sense to try and recoup some value for the star forward. And with no sign of a new contract, it's likely that Panarin could be moved, especially if New York's focus is going to be on the upcoming season.
With Panarin in his age thirty-four season, the chances of him going to a Stanley Cup contender are far more likely than him ending up on a team like the New York Islanders. Carolina fits the bill, meaning that they should be on the phone as I'm writing this so that they can beat me to the punch.
That said, unless Panarin forces his way out, the trade isn't going to be a straight player-for-player swap. As the Rangers are going to be above the cap in the offseason, they would have to try and find a way to make some room for Kotkaniemi's contract; that could involve including a player like Sam Carrick, which would clear a million dollars worth of cap room.
Should the Rangers ask for a return involving players, it would have to involve short-term rentals. However, just six of Carolina's starters are set to hit free agency this offseason, and one of those players is Frederik Anderson. I can't imagine a Panarin trade involves Frederik Anderson; however, I could see Mark Jankowski and Mike Reilly, both of whom are going to hit free agency this year, going to New York alongside Jesperi Kotkaniemi. As well, if 2025-26 is truly the biggest all-in year for Carolina, then the Hurricanes will probably end up sending their one first-round pick in the 2026 draft to the Rangers.
While the remaining money due to Sam Carrick and Artemi Panarin would set the Hurricanes back, offloading Kotkaniemi's contract would help to alleviate this concern. Even then, Carolina would have still have enough resources to pursue another big name player to help in their push for the Stanley Cup.
For the above reasoning, this trade helps both the Hurricanes and the Rangers. Not only would New York receive a young player who is capable of benefitting from a fresh start and who could be a key part of a retooled and refocused Rangers team, but they would also be receiving veteran pieces that do not have to be re-signed to crazy expensive deals (if there is any future deal at all) and that could contribute in the short term. As for Carolina, they'd be receiving two veterans who know their way in the NHL and who are proven playoff performers; both of those are going to be key if Carolina is to succeed at surviving an Eastern Conference where at least five teams could easily go on a run to the Stanley Cup Final.
That's only considering teams in the playoff bracket right now.
While Carolina is in a pretty decent position right now - the Hurricanes currently sit in first in the Metropolitan with a five-point lead on the Islanders and just a point back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top seed in the conference - there is significant room for improvement. Said improvement might not have worked in the past, but in considering the chaos that is the Eastern Conference, it's very well possible the next round of reinforcements could push the Canes over the top.