Top Moments of the 2019-20 Regular Season: No. 8

With the 2019-20 regular season officially over, Hurricanes.com is counting down the top 10 moments from the last year, presented by Storm Brew from our friends at R&D Brewing.

Previous Top Moments: 10. Ward Retires, Sounds Warning Siren | 9. Geekie Shines in First Two NHL Games

8. Canes bolster lineup with trade deadline acquisitions

In recent history, trade deadline day has come and gone without much action for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, played out differently.

The Canes grabbed headlines with a trio of trades, acquiring center Vincent Trocheck and defensemen Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen, moves designed to bolster the lineup not only in the immediacy, but, even more importantly, the seasons to come.

"We believe in the guys we have here, but we thought needed to strengthen us at certain positions," Canes President and General Manager Don Waddell said. "We come out of this feeling really good about the players we added."

The first move of the day brought Trocheck to Raleigh. Even though the trade with Florida cost the Canes four pieces, including forwards Lucas Wallmark and Erik Haula, the team couldn't let slide the opportunity to acquire a right-shooting, top-six center with two additional years of term left on his contract.

"That's why we gave up so much," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We gave up a lot to get a player who fits exactly what we're all about and fills a need we definitely had."

READ: CANES GRAB HEADLINES WITH TRIO OF TRADES ON DEADLINE DAY

With two of their top four defensemen sidelined with injuries, the Canes then turned their attention to the blue line. The Canes acquired Skjei from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2020 first-round draft pick, in addition to Vatanen from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for two prospects and a conditional draft pick.

Waddel said Skjei, who is under contract through 2023-24, "checks all the boxes," while Vatanen, a pending unrestricted free agent but a top deadline target, was expected to be out with an injury until early March.

As it turned out, Trocheck and Skjei played in just seven games for the Canes before the regular season was abruptly cut short, and they were both just settling in with their new team.

Trocheck's first goal with the Canes was a big one. In his fifth game with his new team, Trocheck pounded a rebound into the net on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime to lift the Canes over the New York Islanders, 3-2. That critical, playoff-style win on the road snapped a four-game winless streak and sparked a three-game winning streak that ultimately rounded out the Canes' regular season.

Skjei recorded his first point with the Canes on Feb. 28 against Colorado, a secondary assist that held the offensive zone and led to Teuvo Teravainen's 14th goal of the season. Skjei ranked third on the team in average ice time per game (20:50) since the deadline.

Vatanen, who was on the road with the Canes at the time of the pause, didn't end up logging a regular-season game with his new team. He's among the group of players Video: CAR@NYI: Trocheck cleans up rebound for OT winner and figures to be in the mix on the blue line for the postseason.

"It's a strong message," Waddell said of the trades, "that we're here to win."