Old North Banter
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Which offseason acquisition will end up having the biggest impact on the Hurricanes?

By Christian Candeloro

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: David Savard #58 of the Columbus Blue Jackets congratulates Ryan Dzingel #19 after he scored a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: David Savard #58 of the Columbus Blue Jackets congratulates Ryan Dzingel #19 after he scored a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Which offseason acquisition will end up having the biggest impact on the 2019-20 Hurricanes?

The Hurricanes had a very busy offseason. Carolina was active in free agency and leveraged its cap space to swing several trades and extract assets from cap-strapped teams.

The team did well to acquire future assets in the form of draft picks and prospects, but which player will have the biggest impact on the 2019-20 team and helping to push the Hurricanes over the hump?

Ryan Henkel: The biggest offseason acquisition for the Hurricanes will be Erik Haula. Fast and skilled, the former Golden Knight gives the Canes an amazing addition as the third line center. Carolina has never had great center depth and with Haula, they gain one with huge upside.

Haula has also been slotting into the power play consistently and has gotten time with Martin Necas on his wing, so he will be a huge catalyst for Necas’ development and production. Haula scored nearly 30 goals in his first season with the Golden Knights and is coming off of major knee surgery from last season. He hasn’t looked hampered nor slowed down at all in the pre-season and I think he is eager to prove himself to his new team.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 16: Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during warmups before a game against the Buffalo Sabres at T-Mobile Arena on October 16, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 16: Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during warmups before a game against the Buffalo Sabres at T-Mobile Arena on October 16, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Tyler Young: The new face most likely to make an impact this year for this Canes is Haula. While he is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for most of a season, his last full season was a career year, particularly on the special teams.

As most fans know this is an area that the Canes have struggled with recently. It was not uncommon for fans to ponder if it would be better to put one of ours in the box when the opposition committed an infraction, so woeful have our powerplay units been. If Haula remains healthy, look for him to be a key cog in a reinvigorated powerplay unit.

COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 16: Ryan Dzingel #19 of the Columbus Blue Jackets lines up for a face-off in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 16, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 16: Ryan Dzingel #19 of the Columbus Blue Jackets lines up for a face-off in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 16, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Christian Candeloro: Man, I guess the Haula bandwagon is picking up a lot of steam. I’ll buck the trend and say Ryan Dzingel. The left-winger landed in a terrible spot in Columbus, where coach John Tortorella steadily cut his minutes and his production tanked. I’m betting on a bounce-back year.

Last season, Nino Niederreiter had a -11 +/- for Minnesota before being traded and finished as one of Carolina’s most important offensive players. He increased his goals and points despite playing fewer games.

Dzingel is a similar case. After posting 44 points to start the season, his production was muted in Columbus and playing on a line with Haula and Jordan Martinook should unlock that potential.

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