Carolina Hurricanes: Five potential trade deadline targets

Robin Lehner

No list of Canes trade targets would be complete without a potential solution to the goal-tending woes. Lehner was connected with the Canes this past offseason before eventually landing in Chicago. Lehner has posted a 16-9-5 record in 39 games (30 starts) for Chicago this year. His save percentage and GAA are both worse than his last season with the Islanders, .930 and 2.13 last season vs .921 and 2.91 this season, which likely plays a role in his availability on the trade market.

This may be a good opportunity for the Canes, who have been searching for solution in the net, going all the way back to the beginning of last season. That campaign saw them employ a goalie tandem where neither really showed enough to truly take the No. 1 spot. With that being said, Lehner could finally be the answer. His play down the stretch was a major factor in the Islanders’ run to the second round of the playoffs, as Lehner started every game in the playoffs for New York. He was awarded the Masterton Trophy in 2019, as well as sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy with Thomas Greiss.

There is a lot of upside in acquiring Lehner, although it does come with some risks. The Canes already have $6.5 million in cap hit tied up in goalies, and taking on Lehner’s $5 million hit would eat up nearly all of the cap room Carolina has left. Not to mention the ensuing goalie controversy that will occur once Alex Nedeljkovic’s contract goes to a one-way NHL deal next season.