Late Wednesday night, it was announced that the Carolina Hurricanes had acquired forward Erik Haula in return for prospect Nicolas Roy and a conditional 2021 fifth round draft pick.
A positive addition
1/? Generally great trade. #Canes get versatile middle 6 forward who can play LW or C, can kill penalties and has speed/pace that fits Brind'Amour's system. #TakeWarning https://t.co/8DbRXyRirU
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) June 27, 2019
As noted above, I like the move in general. Erik Haula is an upgrade for the middle part of the lineup and has the speed to be a good fit for Brind’Amour’s system. He is a versatile player who can play left wing or center. He is also another capable penalty killer with the type of speed that can lead to shorthanded breakaway chances. Haula also brings a decent balance of two-way play but with offensive ability. All in all, he at a minimum should be an upgrade to the bottom half of the lineup. In some ways, I see him as being a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-lite in terms of versatility being able to play two positions and also reasonably well on different types of lines.
Upside versus downside production-wise
2/? Big question with Erik Haula is if he offensively is 2017-18 version (29G/ 55 pts) which is roughly C2 production #Canes need, or if broader history as 40ish-point player is what to expect. The latter looks bit too much like more capable depth which is not really the need.
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) June 27, 2019
The big question for me with regard to what Haula brings has to do with his scoring ability. He had a breakout season during Vegas’ stellar inaugural season. His 29 goals and 55 points in 75 games in 2017-18 are reasonable production for a second line center (or wing). But his scoring pace otherwise has been below 40 points per 82 games in his other five seasons in the NHL. So the high end qualifies as a decent second line scorer. The low end looks more like another good depth forward who production-wise slots on a third line.
…But regardless a net positive
3/? Even if Erik Haula does not truly fit ideal need, I still think he is an upgrade and that this trade will be a net positive. #TakeWarning
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) June 27, 2019
Not to be lost in trying to fill gaps higher in the lineup is the fact that Haula is a good middle of the lineup player who should make the team deeper and better regardless of where he slots.
On Nicolas Roy
4/? As far as Nicolas Roy…I think he can be capable NHL player, but I think his ceiling is fairly low as C3 at best and maybe more of an old school checking line C4. If correct, that is replaceable. #TakeWarning
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) June 27, 2019
Nicolas Roy has made positive step-wise progress since being drafted and does project to be an NHL player. With Vegas needing inexpensive depth players to make the salary cap math work and with a decent amount of offensive fire power at the top of the lineup, Roy might find his way into a sizable NHL audition in training camp. But though I do see Roy as having the potential to hold down an NHL spot in the future, I think his ceiling is fairly low. Most likely, he fits as a defensively capable fourth-liner who can take defensive zone draws and chip in some offense. In short, I think Roy is the type of player who is replaceable both in the lineup and within the Hurricanes’ depth chart.
My one reservation
5/5 Only reservation I have is that I would rather team aim a bit higher if this in fact the move for that C2 slot. #TakeWarning
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) June 27, 2019
My one reservation has less to do with Haula and more to do with how the team might envision him fitting into the lineup. I sketched out how I saw the Hurricanes forward lines in yesterday’s Daily Cup of Joe. I see Haula as ideally being a complementary left wing on either a scoring line or Staal’s match up line, but I wonder if the team instead has him projected to be one of the top three centers. I continue to think that the one big add needed is a catalyst/playmaking second line forward, ideally a center. While I do think there is a chance that the 2017-18, 59-point version of Haula is that, I would have preferred that the Hurricanes add something higher end for that slot. With Haula’s modest $2.75 million salary cap hit and the de Haan trade yesterday, the potential is still there to make another addition depending on what the team’s goals and budget are.
Injury risk
Another wild card in the situation is the fact that Haula missed the majority of the 2018-19 season with a severe knee injury sustained in early November. He is expected to be ready for training camp, but the injury was of the variety for which the potential is there for lingering effects.
In general, I like the move but hope it is just one of two upgrading the Canes forward ranks.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What are your general thoughts on the trade for Erik Haula?
2) Where do you envision Haula slotting into the Hurricanes lineup?
3) What, if anything, is next?
Go Canes!
What is the condition of the 5th round pick?
1) Worth the risk. If Haula returns to form, he is the 25-goal scorer that is needed to round out the Canes forward group. I do wonder if he is a rental.
2) In the earlier discussion this week my opinion was the Canes needed another 25-30 goal scorer. If the Haula from 17-18 shows up, that is exactly what the Canes have. I would envision Svech moving back to RW.
Niederreiter/Aho/Svech, Haula/Staal/Teravainen, Maenalanen/Wallmark/Necas, Foegele/Martinook/McGinn
Maenalenen and Foegele or McGinn might be flipped. I happen to think both Wallmark and Maenalanen will have significant scoring upticks this season. Necas will need a solid two-way center and a physical presence as well. The “third” and “fourth” lines are the hybrid and disruption lines for a solid team.
3) Only buyouts. Marleau is bought out along with Darling. Williams is not re-signed. The payroll is still bargain basement, even with Aho at 8.5M.
It’s the type of low risk/high reward trade I expected (in a good way).
The Vegas blogger for Hockeybuzz doesn’t like it, which means we should (and I do).
I’m hoping this is not the big addition, I hope there is one more to come, but the trade looks positive to me.
Is the conditional nature of the 5th round pick based upon whether he will re-sign with us after his last contract year, or that he will be able to play a minimum number of games this season after his knee injury, or something else. I think it’s odd that nobody anywhere is saying anything about it. There is even an extensive panel discussion of the trade on the Athletic, but no mention of the condition of the pick.
Maybe I am just being paranoid.
On an unrelated note, the Greenville Swamp Rats are now the Canes’ ECHL affiliate.
The trouble I have with Greenville is that with new ownership a few years ago the trajectory has been downward – with consecutive losing season (and last year was a dumpster fire). I would have preferred a more stable franchise with a better record of success. That said, neither CAR or CLT has historically made extensive use of the ECHL except for goalie development.
Definitely like his versatility and agree that Roy is the type of player that is replaceable. I like that he could get an audition as 2C (perhaps with Turbo and Svech) but could also be bumped to 3C or LW.
1. I like the role that Haula will play – and should play well – as a mid-6 forward with offensive potential and solid 2-way play.
I do think that Roy is an expensive price for what could be a one-year rental. I am in the camp that while Roy may be replaceable, he is not easily replaceable. He is an NHL-ready 4C, I believe, and would be – again, I believe – an immediate upgrade to McKegg with a lot more upside. Roy is the type of player at his age and contract status that we could rely on for years to be a solid 4C for years at a reasonable price without necessarily have to shuttle new players in every couple of years for that role.
2. I don’t know enough about Haula – is he solid enough to the 2C between Necas and another high-end LW (Svech) to play Brown’s role season between Jurco and Necas? Or is he going to be a 2-way LW on Staal’s line (probably more likely).
3. Depending upon 2, I still see us – as you suggest – looking for a 2C but I don’t needs to be an elite playmaker to play between a line with possible woings of Svech and Necas but to provide 2-way back-up as a center.
It must be the knee. The Vegas blogger refers to it as “the oddly undisclosed knee injury”. Looking back to an April article in the Athletic about the injury, it says that George MacPhee is not telling anyone what the injury is. However, the writer of the article says that one of the knee specialists working with Haula claims that this is the first such injury of this type to happen to a hockey player. Hmmm!
The conditional 5th round pick is for 2021? It seems to be. Two seasons with a minimum number of games played? Maybe. Maybe more conditions.
It’s very simple, so you stop speculating. According to LeBrun, “Conditions on 5th RD pick in Haula trade: if he’s on the Hurricanes roster past next season Vegas gets the pick (so if he signs); If the ‘Canes trade Haula for either a player, or multiple picks, or a pick in rounds 1-5, Vegas also gets the 5th. If Haula walks next year, no pick”
Details of the conditional pick according to TSN https://www.tsn.ca/report-vegas-golden-knights-sending-erik-haula-to-hurricanes-for-prospect-nicolas-roy-1.1329216
I’m guessing that Geekie or Steelio are the centers that the Canes consider to have higher upsides than Roy.
They can’t keep all the picks (due to the 50 contract limit) so I guess they have to pick and choose.
My most optimistic version of Roy was a Jordan Staal light (big, tough, reliable, good defensively) and that works well on every team, but the Canes didn’t have the trust/room to bring him up immediately and have a bit of a prospect logjam so someone had to be moved. I go with the Canes staff on this one, I don’t know enough to call it reasonable or overpayment.
Hopefully Roy will succeed, he’s in the west so he won’t succeed against the Canes much.
Hala had his best year playing with James Neal, wonder if sending Darling to the Falames in return for Neal with the Flames covering half his contract might be worth a shot, though honestly I doubt it, it’s a wild theory.
Can you imagine Peters accepting Darling on the Flames. “Make a f-ing stop!” x 10! LOL!
Lol, no, I would have a hard time imagining that. 😉
But they are apparently pretty desperate to get rid of Neal, probably not *that* desperate, and if they are it may be for a reason.
I think we have kept Darling around this long into the buy-out period in the hope that we can get value for him by trading him to a team that is trying to make it to the cap floor.
That was so funny rtj. Think you are right, probably should wait on buy out just to see if we get lucky. That is desperate with a capital D breezy. 🙂
But you are correct – Geekie and Stelio have better upsides as offensive-minded centers. ROy is priming to be the definition of a NHL 4C.
Hard no on Neal. Definitely in decline and not a guy with a good reputation either.
I like the move – our prospect pool is ripening on the vine and this is exactly the type of low risk / high reward trade using our pool and picks that makes sense to deepen our NHL roster. If his knee can’t return to form, he’s not too expensive to be a healthy scratch and it’s only a 1-yr deal; if it does return and we surround him with TT, etc., he can have big upside and might even extend.
As for Roy, who knows? I thought he seemed a touch slow. Not mourning his loss all that much and wish him well.
I do not think we’re done. We have been the most active team this off-season and I think we continue to look to upgrade over the next few weeks.
Agreed
A report about Haula’s injury made at the time of the injury (caused by Patrick Marleau). https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2018/11/vegas-erik-haula-leaves-game-on-stretcher-with-leg-injury.html (A torn ACL is fairly uncommon in hockey due to the mechanics of the injury.) The fixed foot, deceleration and twisting is consistent with torn internal knee ligaments, It could also have included meniscal damage, medial/lateral collateral ligament damage. There is also the chance the PCL (Posterior Collateral Ligament) was involved . A torn PCL would be very unusual for a hockey player.
It’s all repairable, but reasonable rehab is 9 months.
An article compiling rumors swirling around UFAs of interest. The Canes appear in more than a few. https://mynhltraderumors.com/2019-nhl-free-agency-top-free-agents-and-potential-landing-spots/2019/06/27/
Thanks surgalt and raleightj.
Why does the article specifically state that Ferland is “not Hurricanes”.
Someone like Nyquist, Zingel or a cheap Simmons might be worth a look, I’d say Zingel out of the 3.
Not sure. It sounded like he would not mind returning. Just a writer opinion. With 31 teams he has a good probability of being right with not having any real data.
I found that to be curious as well, breezy. “Not Hurricanes”. To be sure, it is difficult to tell a player that you don’t think he is worth the money as well as the term he thinks he is worth. I remember when the Jets went into arbitration with Jacob Trouba. They won, but they lost.
So, is the nasty statement “not Hurricanes” because of something Ferland said in hurt and anger, or is it because of the writer’s bias against this “Bunch of Jerks”?
It is disturbing to me.
Haula is a great pickup. My guess is he that he takes Ferland’s spot on the roster. Not sure he is the 2C answer, but hope he bounces back and can play wing on the 2nd/3rd line.
I just read LeBrun’s article – the Canes were trying hard all through draft weekend to obtain Haula. Vegas was holding out for a bigger prize than originally offered it would seem – so I think they will be happy getting Roy. They weren’t going to shed cap without a good return.
Great trade if Haula is fully healed. Good face-off man, can play on both the PK and PP, speedy and skilled, with a reasonable salary in a contract year. Call it the Justin Williams insurance policy trade.
Story I had heard about Haula was that he could have been ready to play later in the playoffs if Vegas had not been eliminated.
I think its a great trade, on paper. Hopefully Huala fits in and buys in. Guys in the contract year can have their own agendas. Losing Roy won’t cause me to lose any sleep. Every time he got a chance with the Canes he looked slow of foot and of decision. I’m not convinced he’ll ever be a NHL player. Others, like Maenalanen, had passed him on the depth chart.