The NHL reportedly stepped in and prevented a blockbuster trade between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. Or at the very least, delayed one.
Over the weekend, it was reported that the Hurricanes and Flyers were discussing a trade that would’ve seen defenseman Tony DeAngelo head back to Raleigh. The Flyers were willing to eat 50 percent of DeAngelo’s salary.
But according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the NHL had an “issue” with the deal. LeBrun noted that there’s language in the NHL CBA which bars a team from reacquiring a player via trade within a year due to salary cap circumvention:
“The Hurricanes and Flyers were in agreement in principle on Tony DeAngelo going to Carolina for a prospect and Philadelphia retaining 50 percent of his remaining $5 million salary and cap hit for next season. But my understanding is that the NHL took issue with DeAngelo going back to Carolina within a year of his trade from the Hurricanes. There’s language in the CBA about a player returning within 12 months, especially on a retained salary, as being possible circumvention.
I believe both the Flyers and Hurricanes have argued with the league about this, saying: 1) His contract wasn’t even signed with Carolina; it was Philadelphia that signed him last summer to a two-year, $10 million deal. And 2) Chuck Fletcher was the GM who traded for DeAngelo and signed him, and he’s no longer there — so how could any of this be a circumvention?”
LeBron believes the NHL will speak to the Flyers and Hurricanes this week. If they don’t approve of it, LeBrun added that the NHL may instead “want the teams to wait until July 9 to complete the trade, following the 12 months rule.”
If it’s the latter, there’s obviously no guarantee that the Hurricanes and Flyers would agree to the deal. Carolina could explore other defensemen, and Philly could end up receiving a better offer from a different club.
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DeAngelo was signed to a one-year, $1 million deal by the Hurricanes in the 2021 offseason. He tuned in 10 goals and 51 points and helped Carolina to a Metropolitan Division crown. Carolina wound up trading DeAngelo to the Flyers last offseason, and he agreed to a two-year deal worth $10 million.
DeAngelo had 11 goals and 42 points in 70 games for the Flyers this past season.
