The Carolina Hurricanes added physical presence to their roster by acquiring forward Nicolas Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The deal cost Carolina a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. General manager Eric Tulsky described the move as enhancing team toughness for the playoffs.
The 2026 NHL trade deadline concluded on March 6 with the Carolina Hurricanes making a targeted addition to bolster their lineup's grit. In exchange for Nicolas Deslauriers, the Hurricanes sent a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers. The condition on the pick relates to Carolina's postseason performance, potentially determining whether it is conveyed at all.
Deslauriers, a 35-year-old native of LaSalle, Quebec, brings extensive experience and physicality. Over his NHL career spanning 701 games with teams including the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Flyers, he has recorded 53 goals, 52 assists for 105 points, and 794 penalty minutes. Since the 2014-15 season, Deslauriers leads the league with 88 fighting majors, establishing him as a veteran enforcer. This season, in 24 games with Philadelphia, he tallied one assist while averaging 8:04 of 5-on-5 ice time. Across the last three seasons, he has appeared in 115 games with three goals and eight points.
Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky emphasized the strategic fit. "Nic’s a veteran. He’s a physical presence," Tulsky said. "He’s someone who has great character, does things the right way, makes the team harder to play against and generally just sort of adds the character and toughness that we wanted to bring to the group." Tulsky noted that high asking prices for other targets would have represented a step back, both short-term and long-term. The Hurricanes, who boast the third-most points in the league as of March 6, prioritized depth without disrupting their core. Most forwards and defensemen are signed for next season, except for restricted free agent Jaccob Slavin and additions like Deslauriers.
Deslauriers is in the final year of a four-year, $7 million contract paying $1.75 million annually and will become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He is expected to join the Hurricanes following their current road trip and serve as an extra forward alongside Jesperi Kotkaniemi under head coach Rod Brind’Amour. The Flyers, meanwhile, bolstered their 2027 draft assets to nine picks, including two first-rounders.
This acquisition addresses Carolina's need for playoff toughness, evident in recent Eastern Conference Final appearances where added physicality could counter opponents like the Tampa Bay Lightning.