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The Hurricanes made a move to add some depth to the crease ahead of the expansion draft Wednesday, acquiring goalie Dylan Wells from the Edmonton Oilers. Wells has not played an NHL game.
Don Waddell said in the Canes’ release that this move gives the team added flexibility in the expansion draft, and it seems to be a move made with that in mind. The expansion draft rules require each team to expose one goalie under contract for the 2021-22 season, or one who will be an RFA this summer. Any RFA goalie must receive a qualifying offer to meet the requirements. Wells is an RFA, so, if they qualify him, he can meet their goalie exposure requirement.
The team’s official release follows:
‘CANES ACQUIRE DYLAN WELLS FROM OILERS
Goaltender spent most of 2020-21 season on Edmonton’s taxi squad
RALEIGH, NC – Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired goaltender Dylan Wells from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for future considerations.
“Dylan is a young goaltender with experience in both the AHL and the ECHL,” said Waddell. “This move helps solidify our organizational depth and provides us with greater flexibility for the upcoming expansion draft.”
Wells, 23, has registered a 6-10-2 record, 3.16 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and one shutout in 19 career American Hockey League games with Bakersfield. He has also posted a 15-12-3 record, 3.74 goals-against average, .896 save percentage and one shutout in 33 career ECHL games with Wichita. The 6’2”, 190-pound netminder posted a 69-73-17 record, 3.65 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and two shutouts in 162 career Ontario Hockey League games with Peterborough from 2014-18. While playing for the Petes, he was teammates with Hurricanes forward Steven Lorentz for three seasons. Wells won gold with Canada’s U18 squad at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The St. Catherines, Ont., native was drafted by the Oilers in the fifth round, 123rd overall, of the 2016 NHL Draft.