The National Hockey League’s trade deadline is less than a month away.

With the Calgary Flames almost certain to miss the playoffs, it should be time to officially kick off the rebuild and add to an already impressive farm system. They’ve already moved pending unrestricted free agent Rasmus Andersson, but they still have a handful of veterans that can net them a sizable package.

Trading at this time of year is always complicated, as playoff contenders are more than often near the cap ceiling, but not the Carolina Hurricanes. In the first edition of Meet the Buyers, we’ll look at the Hurricanes’ needs, their cap situation, and  what they have to offer the Flames.

Hurricanes needs and cap situationLet’s get the cap situation out of the way first. As it stands, they have over $25 million in current space after accruing cap throughout the season. By the deadline, it’s projected they’ll have over $40 million, all of this thanks to Puckpedia.

They can easily absorb the contract of Kadri ($7 million until after the 2028-29 season), Coleman ($4.9 million until the end of the 2026-27 season), Weegar ($6.25 million until after the 2030-31 season), and Whitecloud ($2.75 million until the end of the 2027-28 season).

On Feb. 7, The Athletic’s Harman Dayal released an article looking at seven teams that need to make a move. Of course, the Flames were there, but so too were the Hurricanes, with their specific need being a second line centre.Enter Nazem Kadri, right? Well, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported earlier this season that Kadri included the Hurricanes on his 13-team no trade list, which is a bit of a problem. Of course, the 35-year-old centre could end up waiving that as the Hurricanes are a legitimate contender, but it does pose a problem.

Kadri’s play has regressed in 2025-26, scoring just 10 goals and 39 points over 56 games, which is on pace for just 14 goals and 57 points over an 82-game season, well down from his 35 goals and 67 points in 2024-25.

It’s worth noting that the Flames are reportedly looking for a Brock Nelson-type haul to get this trade done. Before the 2025 trade deadline, the Avalanche sent prospect Calum Ritchie, a 2026 first round pick, a 2027 third round pick, and former Flame Oliver Kylington for the then-pending UFA.

The Hurricanes have less of a need for a middle six winger like Coleman, but adding some grit, championship pedigree, and some five-on-five scoring in the playoffs is never a bad thing. Defence isn’t a huge need either, but adding Weegar would give them another top four defenceman, despite Weegar’s struggles in 2025-26. It’s worth noting that the Hurricanes were reported to be in on Andersson, so who knows.

What the Hurricanes have to offerThe Flames’ biggest need in their prospect pool are centres. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes are lacking down the middle. Their top centre prospect according to Daily Faceoff’s top prospect list is Ivan Ryabkin, who ranked as their sixth-best prospect. 

Ryabkin didn’t have a great go of things in the American Hockey League, scoring a goal and seven points in 25 games. Recently, he joined the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Charlottetown islanders, where he has three goals and 11 points in seven games.

Their best prospects are either defencemen or wingers, with Bradley Nadeau being the highest-ranked forward. Nikita Artamonov and Felix Unger Sörum are two other wingers of note, while right-shot defenceman Dominik Badinka has five goals and nine points in 40 AHL games.

For picks, the Hurricanes own the Dallas Stars first rounder this year, as well as a fourth and two sixths. In the 2027 draft, the Hurricanes have their first and second, as well as two third-round picks, while also owning two first round picks in 2028.

There’s certainly a pathway for the Hurricanes and Flames to link up on a trade at some point before Mar. 6’s deadline.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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