LeBrun's latest hypotheticals and complete speculation:
New Jersey Devils trade Sami Vatanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2020 second-round pick. (Devils retain 30 percent of Vatanen’s $4.875 million cap hit.)
My take: Let me preface this by saying Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon isn’t a big fan of paying for rentals. He doesn’t think it’s good business. He’d rather GM Don Waddell make a hockey deal for a blueliner under contract past this season. But as we know, that’s easier said than done. Although I do think Carolina inquired on Matt Dumba in Minnesota recently. I just think that’s too big a deal for Canes right now.
The pending UFA Vatanen, a right-hand shot D who can play both sides, would help fill the void left by Dougie Hamilton’s injury. The Hurricanes, in doing their diligence, I’m told, have talked to New Jersey among other teams while they search the D market. Carolina has two second-round picks, its own plus the Rangers’ (from the Adam Fox trade). The Devils might have enough interest in Vatanen to get a second asset in the deal, perhaps a conditional pick attached in case Vatanen signs with his new team.
While I think this is totally realistic and would not be at all surprised if it happened, I find the most interesting comment to be about CAR inquiring about Dumba. He does preface by saing "I do think...", but I just don't see it working next year with Hamilton and Pesce already on the right side with both making $4M+.
Although...if you look at it from what they've done in the past, it does make sense to be proactive and get a potential Hamilton replacement that's signed long-term, just in case the Hamilton contract negotiations go sour.