Hurricanes Add 2 Players On PTOs

The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the most active teams in signing players to PTOs (professional tryouts) ahead of training camp this season. They already added Nathan Beaulieu and Nick Shore before now bringing in two more players, Kieffer Bellows and Jayden Halbgewachs.

The defense is very much set this season for the Hurricanes and a lot less injury prone than the other two positions. The injuries to the forwards is what hurt the team last season. The Hurricanes have a very strong group up front and are looking to contend for the Presidents' Trophy, but it seems like they want some options and more depth in their system. While I don't expect any of the four PTOs to make the team, I do think there is a strong possibility that one to two get contracts and start out in the AHL.

Bellows is the youngest of the Hurricanes PTOs as he is 25 years old. He was a former first round pick of the New York Islanders in 2016 and just couldn't stick in the lineup. He moved over to the Philadelphia Flyers last season, struggled in the NHL in 27 games, scoring only three goals, but did well in the AHL. It seems as though he is destined to be just that, a fringe NHLer bouncing around. But he is still young enough and could find his groove somewhere. Maybe even Carolina.

Halbgewachs is an undrafted 26-year-old who has played just three games in the NHL. Those came in 2021-22 with the San Jose Sharks. He had a couple of monster years in the WHL to end his junior career and has put up good numbers in the AHL in his professional career. The forward spent last season in the SHL and is looking to make a return to North America. He has the talent level to play in the AHL without a doubt, and will likely start there.

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