The Carolina Hurricanes have traded for defenseman Kyle Masters and a 2026 NHL Draft fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks. In exchange, Carolina sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to San Jose. The deal was announced by Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky.
In a move to bolster their defensive prospects, the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday acquired 22-year-old defenseman Kyle Masters and a fourth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks. The Hurricanes parted with their fifth-round pick from the 2027 NHL Draft, which they had originally obtained from the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2025 draft.
Masters, standing at 6 feet and weighing 176 pounds, brings a solid minor-league resume to Carolina. This season, he has suited up for 10 games with the Wichita Thunder in the ECHL, notching three assists. Over his career, Masters has played 69 ECHL games split between the Iowa Wild and Wichita Thunder, accumulating 35 points with nine goals and 26 assists. He has also seen action in 35 American Hockey League games with Iowa, where he recorded one goal and five assists for a total of six points.
Originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round, 118th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft, Masters represents a young asset with potential for development within the Hurricanes organization. The trade reflects ongoing efforts by general manager Eric Tulsky to build depth ahead of future seasons, leveraging draft capital strategically. No immediate plans for Masters' assignment were detailed in the announcement from Raleigh, North Carolina.
