Get to Know the Carolina Hurricanes: Bryan Bickell

The Carolina Hurricanes made a couple of moves this off season that brought some change to the roster. Now that players are arriving in Raleigh, its time to get to know the unfamiliar faces. Today we look at Bryan Bickell.

Bryan Bickell was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes on June 15th. Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in return for a 2nd round pick in 2016 and a 3rd round pick in 2017.

Bryan Bickell, LW

Height/Weight: 6’4″/233lbs

Shoots: Left

Born: March 9, 1984 (age 30) Orno, ON, CAN

Drafted: 41st Overall 2004, Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Experience: 9 Years

The trade was another steal by Ron Francis to acquire salary cap from the Blackhawks for a low price. A major part of the deal was the $4 million dollar cap hit of Bickell which the cap strapped Blackhawks needed to move.

The deal made sense for both teams as the Blackhawks needed to free up cap for other players, and the Carolina Hurricanes needed cap to get to the salary floor. In doing so the Hurricanes also acquired one of the top prospects in the Blackhawks organization.

Bryan Bickell Brings Playoff Experience to a Young Inexperienced Team

Bickell might not be playing his best hockey at the moment, but he is the type of player that the Carolina Hurricanes need. Bickell is a three time Stanley Cup winner with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013, and 2015 and a nine year veteran of the NHL.

The Hurricanes are very young and inexperienced, with 6 players who are 22 years old or younger. He will bring that experience and size to a team that needs both.

His style and production make him a fit in the bottom six and the penalty kill unit. Bickell struggled with scoring last season, but he has tallied over 20 points four times in his career. Those numbers don’t blow anyone away, but they are solid for a bottom six forward.

Where Bickell has excelled is with his possession numbers. Over the last two seasons he ranked 5th on the Blackhawks and 2nd among forwards in Corsi For Percentage with a 53.5%. To put that into perspective over the same period he would have ranked 5th among Carolina Hurricanes forwards.

BIll Peters has shown that he wants to play a possession style of hockey and Bickell fits into that style. He will be a good force in the locker room with the young players as well. He knows what it takes to be successful in the league and can be an indispensable mentor for the team.

Bickell will prove this season that he still has a lot to give to a team in the NHL. He will have a chip on his shoulder due to being looked at as a salary liability by the Blackhawks. His motivation will be crucial to a Carolina Hurricanes team that is looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.