Trade Grades: Assessing Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman Brent Burns and winger Lane Pederson from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Steven Lorentz, goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional 2023 3rd-round pick. 

San Jose is also retaining 33% of Burns’ $8 million cap hit.

https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1547302451296059392

Carolina Hurricanes

Even at 36-year-old, Burns still averaged a career-high 26:09 of ice time per game while piling up 10 goals, 44 assists, and 18 power-play points across 82 contests in 2021-22.

He’ll probably play fewer minutes in Carolina, and his advanced statistics will likely improve dramatically with the possession-driving Hurricanes.

After all, it won’t be tough to beat last season’s 44.5 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five when adjusted for score and venue per Natural Stat Trick. 

Additionally, Burns started a career-high 56.2 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the defensive zone last year. He definitely won’t be leaned on in his own end as frequently this year with Carolina.

In fact, it’s likely the 2016-17 Norris Trophy winner will be slotted into an offensive role with the ‘Canes, and it should prove to be a smashing success for both Burns and the organization. Still, it’s a hefty cap hit for the next three years for a defenseman well past his prime.

While Pederson probably won’t see significant minutes with the Hurricanes this season, he’s scored at the AHL level with 32 goals and 37 assists through 75 games the past three seasons. 

Carolina is listed as low as +1000 to win the Stanley Cup at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Trade Grade: B-

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San Jose Sharks

The move frees some cap space for the Sharks, and they also add a few assets in the process.

In particular, Eetu Makiniemi was a fourth-round selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He posted an impressive .922 save percentage and 2.06 GAA through 14 games in the AHL last year with the Chicago Wolves.

It’s tough to determine exactly what direction San Jose is headed, though. They are probably going to be tough to pull off a roster overhaul with a number of core pieces locked into long-term contracts at big price tags, so a “competitive rebuild” is likely.

While Sharks fans likely have a few more years of disappointment ahead, the organization is addressing their cap situation and collecting a middling prospect corps.

The Sharks are longshots to win the Stanley Cup with consensus +10000 odds at Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and FanDuel.

Trade Grade: C

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