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With the 2026 NHL Draft finishing up, the Carolina Hurricanes quickly moved on to other business.
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The Hurricanes created a late stir Saturday when they traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks for the rights to veteran defenseman John Carlson. Long a fixture on the blue line for the Washington Capitals, Carlson, 36, was traded by the Caps to the Ducks in March and is due to become an unrestricted free agent.
Next up for the Canes: the team’s prospects development camp, which begins with on-ice sessions Monday at Invisalign Arena. More pressing is the start of NHL free agency on Wednesday and whether they will sign Carlson in the negotiating window before July 1.
The news Friday that winger Seth Jarvis had undergone shoulder surgery and would be out four to six months was a bit jarring but not totally unexpected given his lingering shoulder issues the past few seasons. But Canes general manager Eric Tulsky, in discussing the surgery, did not sound like someone stressing to add a free agent or make a trade with Jarvis possibly out until December.
“We’re looking at everything,” Tulsky said Friday. “It’s hard to say what our lineup will look like on opening night. There’s a very real chance we end up with a spot in our lineup for a month or two for a young player to step in and show what he can do.”
That could mean forward Bradly Nadeau, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2023, will get an extended look. Nadeau played 12 of his 15 career NHL games with Carolina this past season while putting in another season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, where he had 27 goals and 56 points in 52 regular-season games.
Nadeau, for now, holds the distinction of being the last player the Hurricanes have taken in the first round of the draft. The past three years have had the Canes trade back out of the opening round – they sent the No. 31 pick in this year’s draft to the Nashville Predators for two second-round picks.
After another trade Saturday, the Hurricanes finally made Swedish defenseman William Hakansson their first draft selection of the 2026 draft – at No. 51, in the second round. They then selected another Swede, forward Wiggo Sorensson, with the No. 57 pick.
When the draft-pick juggling was over, Carolina took winger Zach Lansard from Regina in the WHL in the third round (No. 68). They used their two fourth-round selections on forward Michael Berchild (No. 105), a Minnesota native out of the U.S. National Team Development Program; and goalie Ryder Fetterolf (No. 125) from the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL.
The Hurricanes’ final draft pick was a sixth-rounder: goalie Zachary Jovanovski of the Guelph Storm of the OHL (No. 165).
Trade speculation continued to swirl Saturday. A lot of Canes fans were atwitter in the days leading up to the draft over the Stanley Cup champs possibly pursuing Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, the 2025 Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, or Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, the 2026 Norris Trophy recipient as the league’s best D-man.
There have been media reports that the Canes have been shopping defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is a restricted free agent after ending his two-year entry-level contract. Nikishin, 25, played with Shayne Gostisbehere on the Canes’ third D pairing much of his first full season in the NHL after coming from Russia’s KHL.
Tulsky said Friday the decision was made to “punt” Nikishin’s contract negotiations back a few weeks into July, and noted it was no surprise the Russian D-man had created so much trade noise in the league given his contract status.
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“He was a big piece on our team this year and may be a big piece going forward,” Tulsky said.
The acquisition of Carlson’s negotiating rights on Saturday added another wrinkle. The Canes’ deal included the draft pick and defenseman Kyle Masters, who played last year for Wichita in the ECHL.
Tulsky said there was a chance the Canes could look to re-sign goalie Frederik Andersen, due to become an unrestricted free agent. Andersen won 13 games in the Canes’ run to the Stanley Cup before an injury in the Cup Final resulting in Brandon Bussi starting the final three games against Vegas
Tulsky said the team would be “comfortable” with Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov as their goalie tandem should Andersen leave in free agency.
“Freddie was very good for us last season and outstanding in the playoffs,” Tulsky said. “He has been a big piece and we’d like to have him back if that’s the way things go.
“We have a lot of trust in the goalies we have. Each has taken their turn at some point as ‘the guy’ for us.”
Carolina Hurricanes selections
Second round
No. 51 – William Hakansson, defenseman.
Listed at 6-5 and 217 pounds, Hakansson played 22 games this past season for Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League. The Solna, Sweden native, also competed in the World Junior Championship. Ranked 12th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
No. 61 – Wiggo Sorensson, forward.
Listed at 5-10 and 178 pounds, Sorensson uses his speed and agility to be effective, ,scouts say. The Swede, who played for Sweden’s U-18 team in the World Junior, was ranked No. 84 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Third round
No. 68 – Zach Lansard, forward
The right winger played for the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League last season and had 24 goals in 56 games. Called a 200-foot player by scouts, the Manitoba native was ranked 70th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Fourth round
No. 105 – Michael Berchild, forward
Committed to play for the University of Denver this coming season, the Minnesota native has taken part in the U.S National Team Development Program and played in the USHL. Rated No. 77 among North American skaters by Central Scouting.
No. 125 – Ryder Fetterolf, goalie.
The Pittsburgh native is considered undersized by current NHL goalie standards at 6-foot and 184 pounds. Played for the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL and is headed to Penn State next season. Named the OHL and CHL goalie of the year.
Sixth round
No. 165 – Zachary Jovanovski, goalie
Listed at 6-3 and 185 pounds, he played for the Guelph Storm of the OHL last season. Rapid development has seen him go from seventh-round OHL draft pick to NHL draft-eligible this year.
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