from Luke DeCock of the News & Observer,
The time has come to find out what Francis is really made of as a general manager. With less than three weeks to go until the NHL trade deadline, he holds one of the most desirable assets on the market in defenseman Andrej Sekera.
The draft picks and prospects he acquires for Sekera could help the franchise going forward, so the return is important to the future of the Hurricanes. But it’s also a chance to see how Francis fares when put to the test in the trade market.
At this point, that’s a complete unknown.
Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, only the Hurricanes’ second in regulation in the past month, could very well have been Sekera’s last home game for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes play only four more at PNC Arena before the March 2 trade deadline, and the NHL’s buying and selling kicked off in dramatic fashion with Wednesday’s blockbuster deal between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres that saw three star players change teams in a seven-player deal, the kind of swap that tends to shake things loose around the league.
Francis has yet to make a single big move, although it’s impossible to know just how tightly his hands have been tied by owner Peter Karmanos.
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.