Let’s start with the 2018 NHL entry draft. The Carolina Hurricanes were big winners of the NHL draft lottery in 2018 and that led to the selection of Andrei Svechnikov at second overall. The Hurricanes were presented this opportunity of selecting a franchise altering player and Waddell successfully did that. Svechnikov proved his dangerous shot can be lethal at the NHL level, scoring 20 goals in his first season.
Waddell also made waves with the trade on day two of the 2018 NHL entry draft. That is when the Hurricanes acquired Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and the rights to Adam Fox from the Calgary Flames for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.