Trade grades: Hurricanes, Flames swap stud blue-liners

Just when it appeared the second day of the NHL draft was going to end without any fireworks, the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a blockbuster five-player swap in Dallas on Saturday.

Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm were shipped west, while Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and unsigned prospect Adam Fox are headed to Raleigh.

At first glance, the deal works for each side, as both the Flames and 'Canes are getting a potential top-pairing defenseman who can anchor their blue line. Below, we'll take a closer look at what each team received and assign trade grades to determine who won the draft-day deal.

Flames

Acquisitions: C Elias Lindholm, D Noah Hanifin

Despite having arguably the best-looking D corps on paper entering last season, the Flames flopped hard in 2017-18, failing to qualify for the postseason for the seventh time in nine years.

So, in an attempt to inject some fresh blood into his lineup, general manager Brad Treliving brought in a player in Hanifin who's just scratching the surface of the potential that convinced the Hurricanes to select the young American fifth overall in 2015. From the Flames' perspective, Hanifin is the crown jewel of the exchange, and how his career pans out will decide who won the trade.

However, Lindholm's value as a capable second-line center with 40-50-point potential clearly sweetens the pot for Calgary. He's also a former fifth overall pick in his early 20s who's yet to hit his ceiling.

Interestingly enough, both Hanifin and Lindholm are set to become restricted free agents July 1, so Treliving has some work to do to ensure his newly added pieces remain in Cow Town for the foreseeable future. With former Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters now behind Calgary's bench, don't be surprised if both re-up with the Flames very soon.

There's no denying Hamilton's potential as a top-pairing rearguard, but Hanifin's upside and Lindholm's consistency are enough to give the Flames a solid grade. - Livingstone

Grade: B-

Hurricanes

Acquisitions: D Dougie Hamilton, F Micheal Ferland, D Adam Fox

In most cases, the team that receives the best player in a trade comes out victorious. That means we won't know the winner of this one for at least a few seasons. Don Waddell could either regret the deal for years or end up looking like a genius.

Hamilton is a legitimate No. 1 defenseman and is only 25 years old. That's a rarity. He had 17 goals last year and has recorded at least 40 points in four straight seasons. He's 6-foot-6 and can skate like the wind. To say he's plateaued in his development wouldn't be fair at all.

The concern is that Hanifin, 21, could be better than Hamilton within a couple of years. When you factor in Lindholm's potential, this has the makings to be catastrophic for the 'Canes. At the same time, there's also no guarantee either player reaches their ceiling.

Additionally, Ferland is a decent top-nine forward, while Fox is a wild card.

The problem is the Hurricanes aren't exactly in win-now mode. They haven't made the playoffs since 2008-09 and weren't very close last season. As good as Hamilton is, he's not going to make them a Cup contender within the next couple of years. Ultimately, it would be a good trade if the Hurricanes were ready to contend, but they're not.

If they can quickly become a playoff team again, this deal will be worth it. If not, it'll be a waste of Hamilton's prime years. - Wegman

Grade: C+

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)