Carolina acquires Pacioretty, Coghlan in trade with Vegas

In a wild play out of left field, the Carolina Hurricanes swung for the fences again after acquiring Brent Burns earlier in the day and landed Max Pacioretty and Dylan Coghlan from the cap-strapped Vegas Golden Knights for essentially nothing.

Pacioretty is coming off a down year due to injuries, but the American-born winger still managed to put up 19 goals and 37 points in just 39 games last season and has 75 goals over his last three seasons.

Pacioretty is also a solid playmaker and tremendous power play asset that will only bolster the Canes’ top-six and being a former captain as well, Pacioretty brings leadership and veteran experience to the room.

But most importantly, it seems that the Canes have found their sniper.

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And the risk is fairly minimal with Pacioretty as he only has one year remaining on his $7 million deal.

In Coghlan, the Hurricanes are getting a 6-foot-2, 200+ lb right-shot defenseman at just 24-years old. Coghlan has a shoot-first mentality and put up three goals and 13 points in 59 games with Vegas last season.

Not a bad bit of business.

However, what this move likely means though is that team will be moving on from Swiss winger, Nino Niederreiter, due to the limited cap space at this point.

The Hurricanes have made the trade official, with the reported details correct. Here is the Canes’ full press release:

RALEIGH, NC – Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired forward Max Pacioretty and defenseman Dylan Coghlan from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for future considerations.

“Adding offensive firepower and improving our power play were priorities this offseason, and Max certainly checks those boxes,” said Waddell. “This acquisition gives us an elite scorer and another veteran voice in our dressing room.

“Dylan is a young, right-shot defenseman who fits our system well. We like his ability to take away time and space and play fast defensively.”

Pacioretty, 33, scored 19 goals and added 18 assists (37 points) in 39 regular-season games with the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2021-22 season. The New Canaan, Conn., native ranked third among Golden Knights forwards in plus/minus (+8) and tied for fourth on the team in power-play points (12) despite missing 43 games due to injury. Montreal’s first round selection, 22^nd overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft, Pacioretty has totaled 642 points (323g, 319a) and 446 penalty minutes in 850 career NHL games with Montreal and Vegas, hitting the 30-goal mark in six seasons.

Coghlan, 24, scored three goals and added 10 assists (13 points) in 59 games with the Golden Knights during the 2021-22 season, establishing career highs in games played, assists and points. The 6’2”, 229-pound defenseman has appeared in 88 career NHL games, totaling six goals, 13 assists (19 points) and 20 penalty minutes. Coghlan has also played 126 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), earning 64 points (26g, 38a).