2016 NHL Trade Deadline: Hurricanes trade John-Michael Liles to Bruins; minor deals wrap day

In a trade deadline as devoid of movement as any in the salary cap era, the Carolina Hurricanes nevertheless found a way to unload three of their unrestricted free agents over the past two days. The third to hit the road, defenseman John-Michael Liles, was traded Monday just before the deadline to the Boston Bruins. In return, the Canes receive a third-round pick in 2016, a fifth-rounder in 2017, and minor-league winger Anthony Camara.

Liles joins captain Eric Staal, sent to the Rangers on Sunday, and winger Kris Versteeg, who joined the Kings in a deal near midnight on Sunday night, as unrestricted free agents who found new homes before the 3 p.m. deadline on Monday.

Liles, acquired for Tim Gleason from the Toronto Maple Leafs on New Year's Day in 2014, enjoyed a renaissance of sorts the past two seasons while serving as an elder statesman along with Ron Hainsey on a very young Hurricanes blue line. He scored six goals for the Hurricanes this year, his highest total since the 2011-12 season, and tallied fifteen points this season. Liles carries a $3.875 million cap hit, and is on the final year of a four-year contract that he signed with the Leafs in 2012.

Camara, 22, is in his third season with the Providence Bruins and has yet to make his NHL debut. In 33 games with Providence this season, Camara has yet to score a goal and has five assists to his name. He is expected to report to Charlotte for now.

In other minor trade news, the Hurricanes reacquired defenseman Dennis Robertson, the player traded with Liles to Carolina in 2014, from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goaltender Drew MacIntyre. Robertson was originally sent to Chicago in the deal that brought Kris Versteeg to the Hurricanes last summer. The Checkers also picked up goaltender John Muse, the team's all-time leader in wins and games played, from Texas for future considerations.

Among the pending free agents not moved before Monday's deadline were goaltender Cam Ward, center Riley Nash, and wingers Nathan Gerbe and Chris Terry.

The release on Liles' trade is below.

CANES ACQUIRE PICKS, PROSPECT FOR LILES

Carolina receives Boston’s 2016 third-rounder and 2017 fifth-rounder

Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired forward Anthony Camara, a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft from the Boston Bruins in exchange for John-Michael Liles.

Camara, 22, has appeared in 33 games this season with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), totaling five assists. The Toronto native is in his third professional season, and has notched 35 points (12g, 23a) in 150 career AHL games with Providence. A third-round selection, 81st overall, of the Bruins in the 2013 NHL Draft, Camara completed a four-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career with Saginaw and Barrie prior to turning professional, totaling 122 points (66g, 56a) in 245 games. Camara (6’0", 194 lbs.) represented Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championship.

Including the third-round selection acquired through this transaction, the Hurricanes now hold seven selections in the first three rounds of the 2016 NHL Draft (two firsts, two seconds, three thirds), as well as six selections in the first three rounds of the 2017 NHL Draft (one first, two seconds, three thirds)

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