The John Carlson sweepstakes may already be nearing the finish line, and if that holds, the teams waiting to make a run at him on July 1 are out of luck.
According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, things are trending in the right direction for Carlson to land with the Carolina Hurricanes, and clubs hoping to bid on the UFA defenseman “gonna have to look in another direction.”
For Carolina, this is shaping up to be a busy stretch on the blue line. The Hurricanes are not only looking at a possible Carlson deal, but they’re also weighing trade possibilities involving Alexander Nikishin. With $11.105 million in cap space and just a handful of roster spots left to fill, they have room to make a real splash.
The market around them is moving fast. Toronto is believed to be pressing hard for Zach Werenski, though Carolina is not thought to be in that chase. The Hurricanes could also still be involved on Connor Hellebuyck, even if most insiders see the Buffalo Sabres as the more likely landing spot for the goaltender.
Carolina’s move to acquire Carlson’s rights before free agency now looks even sharper, but it still had to lead to an actual signing. Carlson, 36, is seeking a two-year deal worth $10 million annually. The Tampa Bay Lightning were also interested in speaking with him, though they may now be turning more of their attention to Werenski.
Carlson wants to win and stay in the East, and Carolina checks both boxes. As the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Hurricanes bring back most of their team for next season.
In Other News...
Lightning Just Reshaped The Roster With One Stunning Day Of Moves
Julien BriseBois has made it clear the market is moving, and the Lightning are trying to keep pace without boxing themselves into a corner later. On a busy day of roster work, Tampa Bay added defenseman John Carlson on a two-year deal and brought in forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Jeffrey Viel to address needs up front, a set of moves that speaks to both urgency and planning as the front office tries to thread the needle between immediate help and long-term flexibility.
There was also a bigger ripple beyond the new additions, because the roster churn did not stop there. BriseBois is still navigating extension talks with Nikita Kucherov, and those discussions remain part of the larger picture as the Lightning reshape the lineup around him. With trade conversations picking up around the league, Tampa Bays latest flurry suggests more change could still be coming before the dust fully settles. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Guerin Just Put Wild Fans In A Familiar Trade Bind
The goaltending picture in Tampa Bay has started to shift as the Lightning brought in Dennis Hildeby, a move that gives them another option behind the starter while they work through the rest of the roster. Julien BriseBois has also made clear the club is still looking at ways to reshape the depth chart, and Jonas Johansson remains part of that conversation as the front office tries to find a fit.
There is a broader trade-market element to all of this, too, because the Lightning are weighing needs in the same kind of price-sensitive environment that has forced other teams to walk away from talks. BriseBois also pointed to the current defense group as the club sorts through its options, which leaves Tampa Bay balancing immediate roster needs against the cost of making a move before the market moves on without them. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Finally Landed The Blue-Line Addition Fans Were Waiting For
The Lightning finally got their blue-line addition, landing John Carlson on a two-year deal after spending the day waiting on one of the markets most accomplished defensemen. For a team looking to strengthen the back end, Carlson brings a long track record of staying relevant at the NHL level, with more than 1,100 games and a rsum that includes a Stanley Cup and multiple league honors.
What makes the fit intriguing is the way the move came together, with Tampa Bay able to step in after Carlsons path took him from Washington to Anaheim before arriving in Florida. He was still productive in the stretch after that trade, and now the bigger question is how quickly the Lightning can fold a veteran of his caliber into their lineup and whether this is the final major piece they wanted on the blue line. [Read more 🡒]