The Toronto Maple Leafs are still working the phones for help on the blue line, and this isn’t being treated as a quick patch job.
According to Pierre LeBrun on TSN, the Leafs have continued to make calls as they look for a defenseman who can be more than a temporary fix. Toronto’s blue line has been banged up, and Thursday night they rolled out Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis as their third pairing. LeBrun said the search is aimed at a real upgrade that would fit with the team’s core and carry through to the March 1st trade deadline.
“In other words, I think he would be trying to be doing this even if their record was reversed right now. This is not about winning or losing or being in a losing streak.
But this is a priority item, if at all possible, for the Leafs to upgrade their blue line. The thing is, we’re in mid-November, and strangely enough, teams aren’t really selling on top-four defensemen right now this early in the year.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, are heading toward a conversation with Erik Karlsson that could shape what comes next. LeBrun reported that Karlsson, who is a pending UFA with a no-movement clause, and his agent will meet with GM Kyle Dubas in the new year to sort out a plan.
Carolina is one team to watch in that picture. LeBrun pointed back to the summer of 2023, when the Hurricanes were in the mix for Karlsson before he landed with Pittsburgh. He said the interest in Karlsson remains strong.
“But one team to keep an eye on, the Carolina Hurricanes. They were the runners-up for Erik Karlsson back in the summer of 2023 when it was between Carolina and Pittsburgh to get him from San Jose.
Carolina had a ton of interest in him. I’m told they still do.
And why wouldn’t they?
Four Options for Sidney Crosby, and Potential Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Candidates
They tried to sign John Carlson, as you know, on July 1 st, but Tampa swooped in and got him instead. But it tells you about maybe the one need that the Stanley Cup champions feel; maybe they still have.
Well, similar players in John Carlson and Erik Karlsson. I expect the Hurricanes to be bidders if and when the Penguins open up the Erik Karlsson trade talks.”
In Other News...
Hurricanes Suddenly Look Like A Real Threat In Michkov Sweepstakes
Reports suggesting Matvei Michkov could be open to a trade have quickly turned into one of the more intriguing rumors around the league, and Carolina has found itself mentioned right in the middle of it. The Flyers have not confirmed anything, and Michkov has not said publicly that he wants out, but the chatter alone has been enough to send teams with cap flexibility and draft capital into the conversation.
For the Hurricanes, the appeal is obvious: they have the kind of structure and assets that can keep them in the mix if this situation ever gets serious. Any pursuit would come with major cost and plenty of moving parts, but Carolina has already been discussed as a team that could make a compelling case if the door truly opens on a fresh start for Michkov. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Staal Return Suddenly Looks Much More Real For Carolina
Jordan Staals return from a calf injury is starting to feel less like a long-shot and more like a real possibility for Carolina. The veteran center has been working back into the mix, and his presence would matter in the middle of the lineup for a Hurricanes team that always leans on its depth and structure down the middle.
There is still no firm timetable, and the team does not appear eager to force the issue just yet. But with Staal getting closer and the Hurricanes keeping an eye on his progress, the next step could come sooner rather than later if he continues to respond well. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Got Pulled Into The NHLs Finland Dilemma
The NHLs plans for future games in Helsinki have suddenly become a little more complicated, and the ripple effect could matter for teams like the Hurricanes if the league keeps looking overseas for regular-season dates. Finland announced it will refuse entry to Russian athletes starting Monday, a policy that applies regardless of whether those players are there with national teams, as neutrals or under club affiliation. That puts the league in the position of having to weigh more than just travel and scheduling if it revisits Finland as a destination.
The NHL has already staged regular-season games in Finland in 2022 and 2024, so the market is not new to the league. But with no future games there announced yet, the new restrictions add another layer to any potential return, especially for clubs that could be affected by roster composition and the leagues broader international calendar. For now, it is another reminder that even a routine overseas trip can turn into a logistical and political puzzle. [Read more 🡒]