CANUCKS & 'CANES SWAP DEPTH FORWARDS
The Vancouver Canucks acquired forwards Zac Dalpe and Jeremy Welsh from the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Kellan Tochkin and a fourth-round draft pick in 2014.
What does it give the Vancouver Canucks
Both Dalpe and Welsh are skilled young forwards who can still improve, and they immediately provide a nice (and pretty affordable) depth boost to the Canucks organization. It won't be surprising if both spend time in the NHL in the coming campaign, especially Dalpe (who could begin 2013-14 as Vancouver's third-line center, after playing mostly wing in Raleigh).
What does it give the Carolina Hurricanes
Above all the Hurricanes save some cash here. Dalpe and Welsh aren't highly-paid but their projected salaries for the coming season combine to cost roughly $1.4 million. That's almost $900,000 more than Tochkin will cost, and Tochkin has some untapped potential so he's a decent return here. The 2014 fourth-round pick also helps, so this is a solid (if not very exciting) move by Carolina.
Fantasy impact
In Vancouver, Dalpe could have a nice boost in fantasy value if he is able to stick as the team's third center this season. Welsh will possibly be shuttled back and forth from the AHL fairly regularly by the 'Nucks in the coming campaign, but his value is minimal. Tochkin isn't as ready to contribute at the NHL level as either Dalpe or Welsh, but he does have some talent (so is worth keeping on the long-term sleeper radar). The strong preseason play by {P Nathan Gerbe} probably made both Dalpe and Welsh expendable in Carolina.
