The Canes Country staff Slack is always an eccentric repository of commentary, “Lumbus” jokes, interesting articles that may find their way into a Storm Advisory, and plenty of general nonsense.
Rarely, however, does it delve into two starkly drawn battle lines the way it did at about 3:15 Friday afternoon, after the Carolina Hurricanes made clear that their deadline shopping was complete and the additions of Shayne Gostisbehere and Jesse Puljujarvi would be the sum total of Tom Dundon’s self-professed “aggressive” approach to the 2023 NHL trade deadline.
In one corner: a group that says the Hurricanes blew an opportunity, that these draft picks burning a hole in their pocket aren’t going to help win a Stanley Cup anytime soon, and oh by the way, did you notice that half the roster is due for a new contract after next season?