The Carolina Hurricanes continue to lean heavily on goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, but the team is looking to get help in the trade market.
TSN insider Pierre LeBrun reports the Hurricanes spoke with the San Jose Sharks about Mackenzie Blackwood before he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche last week and are continuing to explore the market .
Kochetkov is 12-4-0 this season with an .894 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. With Frederik Andersen sidelined early in the year with a lower-body injury, the Hurricanes tried to use Spencer Martin as a backup goaltender, but have since moved him to the AHL and have signed Dustin Tokarski to assist Kochetkov.
Martin is 3-4-1 with a .846 save percentage and a 3.89 GAA. Tokarski, a 35-year-old veteran who has played 80 career NHL games, has yet to play since signing his new contract on Dec. 2.
“The Hurricanes were having discussions with the San Jose Sharks about Mackenzie Blackwood and obviously they weren’t willing to pay the same price,” LeBrun explained Thursday on the show Insider Trading. « [Nikolai] Kovalenko, the young player Colorado gave to San Jose, the Hurricanes didn’t want to pay that price.
“From Carolina’s point of view, they need an insurance policy behind Kochetkov. They already have their number one, but they’re a little worried about what will happen if he gets injured, especially once the playoffs come around. This is why they continue to make calls across the league.
“There are other options. There is Dan Vladar in Calgary, Anton Forsberg in Ottawa, Karel Vejmelka in Utah. The problem is, neither team is willing to compromise. They are trying to qualify for the playoffs.
“And of course there’s the biggest name, John Gibson. We’ve talked about him before, and yes, the Hurricanes have talked with Anaheim about him, but the price is going to have to come down for the goaltender who still has a few years left on his contract to be traded. »
LeBrun raised the possibility regarding Gibson last month, noting that the Ducks would be willing to take on part of the salary of the 31-year-old goaltender, who is under contract until the end of next season and is making a salary of $6.4 million.
Gibson is 4-4-1 this season with a .906 save percentage and a 2.90 GAA.
