Hurricanes trade Stalberg to Ottawa for third-round pick

Eamon Queeney—The North State Journal
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Viktor Stalberg controls the puck in a game Jan. 10against Columbus.

RALEIGH — It’s a seller’s market, and Carolina Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis is selling. A day ahead of the NHL trade deadline, Francis sent fourth-liner Viktor Stalberg to Ottawa in exchange for the Senators’ third-round pick in the 2017 draft. Carolina now holds seven picks (their first, three seconds and three thirds) in the first three rounds of this summer’s NHL Draft and 11 picks in all.Stalberg was a key part of Carolina’s top-ranked penalty kill this season, and his size and speed added elements that have often been lacking to the Hurricanes’ fourth line. In 57 games with Carolina, Stalberg had nine goals and three assists. He was signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract last summer.The Hurricanes also traded Ron Hainsey to Pittsburgh last Thursday, and there are likely more moves to come before the 3 p.m. deadline on Wednesday. Jay McClement is in the final year of his contract, and defenseman Ryan Murphy — selected 12th overall by Carolina in 2011 — has never carved out a spot on the team’s blue line and his name is showing up in trade speculation.