Panthers trade center Vincent Trocheck to Hurricanes

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon has shipped second line center Vincent Trocheck to the Carolina Hurricanes for Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and prospects Chase Priskie and Eetu Luostarinen.

A third round selection (64th overall) back in 2011, Trocheck is two seasons removed for a career-best 75-point campaign. In 55 games this season, had produced 10 goals and 26 assists.

Trocheck heads to Raleigh with two more seasons to go on his current deal. In 420 career games with Panthers he produced 111 goals and 282 points.

Haula is a 28-year-old center and pending UFA who comes to Sunrise with 10 goals and 12 assists in 41 games this season. He put up 29 goals and 55 points for former Cats head coach Gerard Gallant the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2017-18 campaign. He only played 15 games in 2018-19 due to injury.

It will be interesting to see if the Cats try to sign Haula to an extension. A lot will depend on how he performs over the next 20 games.

Wallmark is a 24-year-old center who currently has 11 goals and 23 points in 60 games played. Wallmark, a fourth round pick in 2014, produced 28 points in his first full season with the Hurricanes last year. He is a pending RFA who will need a new deal this summer.

Priskie is a right shot defenseman who was born in Pembroke Pines. After four years with Quinnipiac University, Priskie has played 52 games with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL this season, where has put up 6 goals and 25 assists in 52 games. The 23-year-old was selected by the Washington Capitals in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Priskie is signed through the 2020-21 season.

Eetu Luostarinen is a 23-year-old center currently in his first season of professional hockey on this side of the pond. Luostarinen has one assist in eight games with the Hurricanes and 25 points (8G/17A) in 44 games with the AHL Checkers. Carolina drafted the Finn in the second round of the 2017 draft. He played three seasons for KalPa Kuopio in SM-Liiga. Luostarinen is signed through the 2021-22 season.

This is a big move designed to shake up the sagging Panthers. We’ll see if it works.