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Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes Looking to “Load Up”, Have Klingberg on Radar

The Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly looking at multiple trade options and are rumored to have John Klingberg set as a possible target.

According to a report by The Fourth Period, the Carolina Hurricanes are scouring the trade market ahead of this year’s trade deadline, looking for the right move(s) to make in an effort to take a serious run as Stanley Cup contenders. After adding some pieces this summer to their blue line, it might be surprising to hear that the Canes have another defenseman on their radar: John Klingberg.

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Klingberg is a pending UFA out of Dallas. There’s been a ton of chatter that the Stars are working on extending him, but also talk that the money is an issue. The Stars heavily invested in Miro Heiskanen and set a bar for paying blueliners with his new eight-year, $67.6 million contract. Klingberg is rumored to be asking for a hefty chunk of change too.

John Klingberg Dallas Stars
John Klingberg Dallas Stars

If the Stars do end up extending Klingberg, that obviously takes him out of the conversation for the Hurricanes. So too, Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period writes:

The Canes – who overhauled their defense this summer, adding Ethan Bear, Ian Cole and Tony DeAngelo – may look to add in other areas, as the club has Stanley Cup aspirations this season. A team source confirmed to me in recent weeks that they have been doing their due diligence on what prices will look like around the League and the team will look for opportunities to improve the club.

If the team is happy with their blue line, and the club is getting strong goaltending from Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, perhaps a player or two at the forward position will help. Di Marco doesn’t go into detail about who the Canes might target, but does not that finding the salary cap space to add could be an issue.

He acknowledges that the team currently has a little less than $300,000 in cap space available and any trade might have to be a “money in, money out” deal.

Hurricanes Talking to Ethan Bear

There is also word that the organization has already begun initial talks about a contract extension with defenseman Ethan Bear. “Nothing is imminent and the talks have been mostly preliminary – both sides have wanted to give it some more time to see how the fit is.”

Bear is playing in the final season of a $2 million contract. He will become an RFA with arbitration rights at the end of this current deal.

Next: Calgary Flames Looking to Make Big Trade Splash Before Trade Deadline

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