Top-six winger up for grabs in Carolina as the Canes look to shed salary

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Mike Armenti
July 20, 2023 (11:50)

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Over the last few years, teams have worked tirelessly to try to move players in the name of freeing up valuable cap space. Thanks to the flat cap, teams are feeling the financial squeeze. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the cap expected to rise substantially starting in 2024-25, but until then, teams will have to make due, which involves moving players they may have otherwise kept.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed on the NHL Network on Wednesday that the Carolina Hurricanes are working to try to create some cap space. We already know that Brett Pesce's name has been out there, however, Friedman believes there's a top-six winger available in Carolina who could also be on his way out.

"I think they've talked to some teams about Teravainen, if they need to make some cap room, I think Carolina has a few things going on out there" - Friedman on Carolina making a top-six winger available in the trade market

Teravainen has struggled with his health in recent seasons, but he has been a productive player for the most part. After posting a career high 76 points in 82 games in 2018-19, Teravainen posted a 63-point season through 68 games in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign, establishing himself as a star winger in Carolina. However, he suited up in just 21 games the following season, posting 15 points over that span before seeing his production jump back up to 65 points in 77 games in 2021-22.

Last season, Teravainen saw a huge dip in production, notching just 37 points in 68 games. Now, with the addition of Michael Bunting in Carolina, Teravainen is at risk of falling behind others on the depth chart, especially with Svechnikov, Necas and Jarvis all expected to challenge for top-six minutes next season.

Teravainen will be 29 when the season begins. He can still be an effective and productive player and has one season left on his current contract, which carries a $5.4M cap hit. With the fact that there's no term on his deal and a modest cap hit given the type of offensive impact he can have, I'm sure the Canes won't have any problems finding a dance partner in the trade market.