2 Hurricanes trade candidates after 2026 NHL Free Agency

The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup after coming oh-so-close in the past. But when discussing trades involving Carolina, one player has always been mentioned irregardless of the team’s success. This summer, Jesperi Kotkaniemi may finally be on his way out of town.

Kotkaniemi signed with Carolina back in 2021. At the time, he was a restricted free agent with the Montreal Canadiens. The Hurricanes signed him, in part, in response to the Canadiens’ Sebastian Aho offer sheet from 2019. It was a one-year contract that the Canadiens elected not to match.

Following this one-year deal, he signed an eight-year contract worth $4.82 million per season. And this is where things started going downhill. Kotkaniemi never lived up to this contract. Outside of scoring 43 points in Year 1 of the deal, it just has not worked out.

This season represented the worst one yet for the 26-year-old forward. He played just 42 games, was often a healthy scratch, and scored just nine points. Kotkaniemi’s 11:21 time on ice in 2025-26 was the lowest of his career. To make matters worse, he did not see the ice at all during Carolina’s run to the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes do have some cap space to work with this summer. However, shedding even 50% of Kotkaniemi’s $4.82 million cap hit would allow them a bit more flexibility. Carolina isn’t using him, and Kotkaniemi still has time to salvage his NHL career. It’s best for both sides if a trade can be worked out this summer.

Alexander Nikishin trade could help Carolina make a splash

The Hurricanes have one significant restricted free agent to take care of, and that is defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Carolina doesn’t need to worry about having a Leo Carlsson pulled on them, though. Nikishin is not eligible for an offer sheet, which means if he goes to another team, it will need to be through a trade.

A Nikishin trade is certainly not off the table. The young Hurricanes defenseman has floated around the trade rumor mill all offseason. He was a part of a rumored trade offer for Connor Hellebuyck, for instance. Additionally, teams like the St. Louis Blues have expressed interest in trading for Nikishin.

The Hurricanes certainly don’t need to trade him. He is only 24 years old, and he has the potential to become an impactful defenseman down the line. At the same time, Carolina is in win-now mode. If trading Nikishin increases their chances of defending their Stanley Cup title, Carolina may pull the trigger.