Svechnikov Dismisses Trade Rumors, Focuses on Hurricanes’ Progress
Hurricanes vs. Kraken, Oct. 17, 2022. (Photo: Jenn G., CC BY-SA 2.0)
Written by Alexis Crochiere
As the second overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, there was a lot of pressure on right wing Andrei Svechnikov to live up to his full potential. Eight seasons and 158 regular-season goals later, he has given the Hurricanes their money’s worth. But there could be a world without the duo of Svechnikov and center Sebastian Aho playing in black and red.
Like many players, trade rumors can stir from something as small as inconsistent playing time or a change in lineups. Svechnikov fell guilty to that, as his time on the bench increased at the start of the 2025-2026 regular season, and he was moved to the fourth line after going eight straight games without a goal.
Around the internet, hockey fans stirred over accusations that Svechnikov was unhappy with his playtime and role on the Hurricanes.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet continued to speculate on the rumor on Hockey Night in Canada, bringing up inside sources who heard of Svechnikov’s openness to a trade.
Svechnikov is currently in his fifth year of a seven-year contract worth $62 million with Carolina.
The right winger made quick work of clearing up the confusion while leaving the ice on Nov. 28, as reported by The News & Observer, whose publication calls Raleigh home like the Hurricanes.
“I think that’s just a rumor, and I really don’t discuss the rumors,” Svechnikov said.
With seven goals and seven assists so far in the Hurricanes’ 23-game season, he’s in shape to play his typical season. In the 2024-2025 regular season, the left-shot winger finished with 20 goals and 28 assists, and the season before that he similarly had 19 goals with 33 assists.
With every season but his first, Svechnikov has tallied more assists than goals, which only adds to his chemistry with teammates like Aho, center Seth Jarvis, and newly acquired left winger Taylor Hall, who is still finding his consistent place in the lineup.
Losing Svechnikov would leave a rift not only in the team but also in fans' hearts, as they have seen him grow since the 2018 draft into the NHL player he is today.
But what would potential replacement candidates look like?
First off, the Hurricanes’ offense has a consistent set of forwards, with little need for a star-studded player to take over their first or second line of play. They are not in the market to spend millions on someone with David Pastrnak- or Brayden Point-level talent, because a budding next-star forward is not what their lineup currently needs.
What they need is a mid- to late-20s winger with a consistent playing record who can keep up with the fast-paced 2025 Carolina Hurricanes and who can do laps around their competitors.
Sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, it's no secret skating is one of the team’s fortes, so finding an athlete with speed is crucial to continuing that pattern in the standings.
A potential unrestricted free agent fitting that criteria in summer 2026 could be right winger Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres. With eight goals and 13 assists so far in Buffalo, he fits many aspects of Svechnikov’s statistics with a few more years in the league on him and a drop in price. Looking at what Buffalo’s rebuild could look like, he may be on the trading block come July.
Another, more expensive option would be Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks. With a fairly stacked roster, the Hurricanes would have to put Svechnikov in a two-player deal to cover the cost of the eight-figure athlete and jump through the hoops of his no-movement clause signed back in July of 2025. But with Carolina’s grit over the last couple of seasons, their team has been a welcome trade idea, and with permission and a great package, the 27-year-old could be what is needed to make them a Cup contender.
Though Pettersson falls farther into the Pastrnak- and Point-style of current forwards, the Swedish center may want a Stanley Cup campaign, which does not look hopeful in Vancouver with their second-to-last place in the Pacific Division as of late November.
Despite any UFA candidates or potential in-season trades, Svechnikov has made it clear the rumors were just that—rumors. With the potential for another competitive season ahead of them, the Hurricanes seem far more concerned with getting pucks in the back of the net than with trade speculation.
