As long as the Carolina Hurricanes are in the playoff mix - and right now, they absolutely are - you can count on them being active in the trade market. This is a front office that doesn’t sit on its hands when there’s a chance to upgrade the roster. Just look at the past two seasons: they landed Jake Guentzel two years ago, then made a splash with Mikko Rantanen last season - though they flipped Rantanen again before the deadline.
This year? No different.
Carolina is already working the phones, having made a real push for Quinn Hughes and checked in on Rasmus Andersson before both defensemen ended up heading out west. The Canes are clearly in go-mode, and with every potential addition, there’s going to be a cost - likely in the form of prospects.
That’s been the pattern. The Guentzel deal cost them future assets.
The Rantanen move? More about roster players.
But moving forward, Carolina’s most valuable chips might be the young talent they’ve been developing in the NCAA and AHL. And while there are a few prospects who are probably untouchable, the organization seems open to moving just about anyone if it means landing a true game-changer.
Let’s take a closer look at three prospects who could be on the move - not because the Canes want to lose them, but because they might be the keys to unlocking a blockbuster.
Jayden Perron (21, RW, University of Michigan)
After two seasons at North Dakota - including one alongside fellow Canes prospect Jackson Blake - Jayden Perron made the jump to the University of Michigan for his junior year. That move has paid off. The 2023 third-round pick is having his best collegiate season yet, putting up nine goals and 24 points with the top-ranked Wolverines, good for fourth on the team in scoring.
Perron is part of a strong group of NCAA prospects in the Hurricanes’ system, and while his size might not jump off the page, his hands and playmaking certainly do. He’s the kind of winger who can create space for his teammates and make things happen in the offensive zone. That said, with other high-end college prospects in the pipeline - including Hobey Baker nominee Justin Poirier - Perron might be a little more expendable if the right deal comes along.
He’s not necessarily in Carolina’s immediate plans, but the team does hold his rights until August 2027, so there’s no rush. Still, if a contending team is looking for a skilled, high-upside winger, Perron’s name could absolutely come up in trade talks.
Ryan Suzuki (24, C/LW, Chicago Wolves)
Sometimes, a prospect just needs a fresh start. Ryan Suzuki - a former first-round pick - has battled through injuries since being drafted, which slowed his development early on. But over the past two seasons, he’s finally found some consistency, and his game has taken off.
Last year, he led the AHL’s Chicago Wolves with 59 points, including 47 assists. He even got a brief taste of NHL action, logging two games with the Hurricanes in January. This season, Suzuki’s added more goal scoring to his game and currently sits fourth on the team in points with 30.
He’s a key part of what the Wolves are doing offensively, but there’s a real question about whether there’s a long-term NHL fit for him in Carolina. His vision and playmaking make him a strong trade asset - especially for teams looking to add a creative forward who’s close to being NHL-ready. If the Canes are going big-game hunting, Suzuki might be one of the first names other teams ask about.
Justin Robidas (22, C/RW, Chicago Wolves)
Justin Robidas is doing everything he can to prove that size doesn’t matter when you can flat-out produce. The 22-year-old is in just his second AHL season, but he’s already become a scoring machine for the Wolves. He leads the team in both goals (20) and points (39), and was recently named an AHL All-Star for the first time.
Robidas has also had a few looks at the NHL level, playing in four games over the past two seasons and recording points in three of them - including his first NHL goal in Boston. That kind of production, both in the minors and in limited NHL action, is exactly what front offices look for when evaluating young talent.
He’s tracking toward a 40-goal season in the AHL, and while his size will always be a question mark for some teams, his ability to generate offense consistently is hard to ignore. If the Hurricanes are serious about making a major move before the deadline, Robidas could be one of their most enticing trade chips.
The Bottom Line
The Hurricanes are in a familiar spot - contending, aggressive, and looking to make a splash. And as we’ve seen in recent years, they’re not afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal if it means improving their odds come playoff time.
To make that happen, they’ll likely have to part with some of their promising young talent. Perron, Suzuki, and Robidas have all shown they can be valuable pieces, whether in college or the AHL. But the NHL is about winning now, and if the right opportunity presents itself, the Canes might be willing to roll the dice.
It’s not about giving up on these players - it’s about making the kind of move that could push Carolina over the top. And with the deadline approaching, don’t be surprised if one (or more) of these names becomes part of the next big Hurricanes trade story.