The long-running rumor that the Carolina Hurricanes would trade one of their talented defensemen has finally come to fruition. Except it’s not Justin Faulk, not Dougie Hamilton, not Jaccob Slavin or Brett Pesce. No, instead it is their most recent blue line addition, last summer’s free agent signing Calvin de Haan. After just one season in Raleigh, de Haan is on his way to Chicago, his new team announced. Accompanying him to the Blackhawks is prospect forward Aleksi Saarela and the return heading to Carolina is yet another defenseman, Gustav Forsling, and goaltender Anton Forsberg.
This is not a swap that anyone could have reasonably predicted. The Hurricanes, who have had a logjam on the blue line for several years, finally move a defenseman, but yet again add another defenseman in return. Many were puzzled when Carolina first signed de Haan to a four-year, $18.2MM contract last summer given their existing depth on defense. Now they move him less than twelve months later and add another left-handed defenseman, albeit younger and much cheaper, to essentially take on the same spot in the organizational depth chart. Forsling, 23, played in at least 38 NHL games in each of the past three seasons, but remains a work in progress. Unlike de Haan, Forsling will have to fight for his starts against the likes of Jake Bean and Haydn Fleury, so in a way the ’Canes have at least changed their defensive dynamic. Forsling is a restricted free agent, but lacks arbitration rights and also much of a case that he is worth anything more than a short-term, low-value contract for now.
The second piece coming to Carolina is also intriguing and that is 26-year-old goaltender Anton Forsberg. The Hurricanes’ 2018-19 tandem of Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney are both unrestricted free agents and recent reports suggest that neither is expected to return. Scott Darling still remains under contract despite rumors that he would be bought out this summer and could be in play again next season. Promising prospect Alex Nedeljkovic, a restricted free agent, is also due an opportunity at this stage in his young career. The acquisition of Forsberg is odd, as the Hurricanes still need a starting goalie and he is not the answer. Forsberg did not make an NHL appearance last season for Chicago and fell down the team’s depth chart and struggled with the full-time backup role in 2017-18. At this point in his career, Forsberg – who is also a restricted free agent – is little more than a third-string depth option, making that three such players for the ’Canes now and no real NHL options in net.
So, the strangest part of this trade is not that the Hurricanes added a defenseman and goalie that they did not need, but that they seemingly gave de Haan and Saarela away. Were this any other team, this trade would be viewed as a salary dump, with de Haan’s $4.55MM cap hit and a sweetener, Saarela, heading to a team for a couple middling pieces and cap relief. However, the Hurricanes are currently below the salary cap floor and are facing no financial constraints. Unless this is a precursor to Carolina adding $15MM+ in free agent signings or trade acquisitions, the team did not need to move de Haan for cap relief. Keep an eye out for the Hurricanes in the coming weeks.
Regardless of the Hurricanes’ motivations, this is a great deal for the Blackhawks. De Haan is a solid two-way defenseman who may only contribute moderate offensive numbers, but plays a shutdown defensive game and can move the puck. By no means is his salary an over-payment, as de Haan is an elite shot blocker, a strong physical presence, and a man-down asset. If there is one notable weakness to de Haan, it is that he is injury prone and is in fact currently sidelined following shoulder surgery and unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. Nevertheless, he is still a great defender when healthy. Saarela, seemingly an add-on, recorded 54 points in 69 AHL games last season and was even better in the postseason, adding 15 points in 17 games for the Calder Cup-winning Charlotte Checkers. Saarela is poised to make his NHL debut sooner rather than later and Chicago could wind up with a nice future scoring winger in the 22-year-old restricted free agent.
This is a great trade for the hawks. Good job bowman. Forsberg couldn’t stop a beach ball at the NHL level and wasn’t going to be resigned and forsling can’t stay healthy at all
Bowman is a joke if not for daddy he would be the Zamboni driver
1. Why do the Canes need to attach a prospect to dump salary?
2. Is this the best goalie they could find?
Your bowman hating shtick is getting old. He’s made some garbage moves in the past but since the beginning of last season, he’s done a great job
If your tired of it then don’t read it. Again let me say he is terrible the guy is one of the worst GM’s in the NHL. Oh and you can stick that shtick were the sun dosent shine
This deal makes zero sense, unless there is another deal in the works to add a ton of salary.
Carolina and Vegas working on something? Clarkson and a Forward or 2?
On the surface, this seems like a great deal for the Hawks. Just Forsling & Forsberg for a top 4 LD? Ok.
Phil Kessel
Hawks have the Canes and Yotes on speed dial
This deal is easy to figure out when you realize that the Canes will be a cap floor team again. With Aho needing a big raise this summer, salary had to be slashed eleswhere. And with the likely buyout of Marleau, dumping salary became even more necessary.
I’m of the belief that Dundon is basically allowing the league to avoid another Arizona situation by taking ownership of the team for a short haul, increase it’s value and make it a more attractive franchise for a more permanent ownership group. Dundon has no interest in losing money on this.
Tough offseason for guys who just signed contracts so far.
They have 25M in cap space. They could sign aho and just about every free agent they wanted this summer so clearing space just seems unnecessary
“cattrick1239 mins ago
Your bowman hating shtick is getting old. He’s made some garbage moves in the past but since the beginning of last season, he’s done a great job.”
I agree with this. I have done plenty of Bowman bashing, but lately his moves have been pretty solid.
Drafting DeBrincat, trading for Strome and Perlini, filling in the left side of his D behind Keith with Maatta and DeHaan without giving up much. All nice moves.
Precursor to a Quick trade I hope.
Agreed. I think the alleged power struggle between him and coach Q is now over and that’s been the turning point. Fixing his mistake of signing manning by flipping him for Caggiula and getting kubalik from LA for a 5th are good moves too
looks like Carolina is signing a goalie. then hoping either Forsberg or nedeljkovic can be okay backup. guess Carolina decided to move a d man but have prices too high for right hand shots.
I can try to explain this trade. Sort of. Lol If it was simply de Haan for Forsling it would make sense. Forsling is a solid 3rd liner and won’t hurt you and the difference in salary between the two makes sense. You always pay more for a goalie no matter if they are good or bad. A backup goalie will net you a 3rd round pick no matter what. Giving up a Saarela might be too much overpay.
The Mighty Black Hawks! kudos to all Bowman haters. Hawks Win!
Hawks will give you tickets to the white sox game for Marleau since you want to dump him, maybe a beer and Chicago style pizza to go with that yah wee little Leprechaun
Love this move for the Hawks. I was hoping they’d sign de Haan last summer, so to get him and a pretty solid looking prospect for Forsling and Forsberg is awesome.
I just wonder what Stan’s going to do on defense. Keith, Seabrook, Maata, de Haan, Murphy, Gustafsson, Koekkoek and Dahlstrom on the roster with Jokiharju seemingly ready and Boqvist and Beaudin not far off.
Long offseason ahead still, and I’m really hoping for Pavelski and or Anders Lee, but I’d have to think there will be some corresponding moves on D. It’d be awesome if they could somehow get a cap floor team to take Seabrook’s deal, but I’d be shocked if that happened.
My only worry is that they seem to have several second pairing caliber D men and no real top like caliber D. Maybe Stan gets that done too? Seems like a tall order, especially if they want to leave space for Cat and Strome next offseason.
So now the Hawks have like 11 LH Defensemen, and 3 RH Defensemen? So are they all going to play on one side of the ice? Unlike wingers, Backliners need there sticks along the boards to keep pucks in the zone. So Seabrook, Murphy and Jokiharju are the only RH D men in the organization. So by my reasoning that makes Gustaffsson 4th pair behind Keith, Maata and De Haan. Glad they did not draft Byram or it would be a real mess. Keith, Seabrook have NO Movement clauses in their contracts so those who are hoping for a trade to low floor team should just stop the nonsense. The Defense, although talented to be sure is poorly constructed, unless there are some really creative trades coming. Saarela was just brought here because the Hawks just drafted his brother, in all likelihood, so probably an inducement to getting them both signed.
It makes sense for Carolina, they have 2 excellent young defence men ready for the NHL in Jake Bean and Haydn Fleury. Why pay Dehaan 4.45 to sit in the press box.
Just what I was thinking.
It’s like in fantasy football where you only trade with one or two other guys.
Everyone hates Scotty for bad contracts, and rightly so. I’m not a fan, but he has made some nice moves. But let’s hope he’s learned about bad contracts, since we have to pay some guys coming up.
Open your eyes
This guy probably sat at home filling up his diaper while the rest of us were celebrating each of the three Stanley Cups that Bowman brought to town, because he couldn’t wrap his head around how the league works.