Monday’s 2018 NHL trade deadline was a quiet one for the Carolina Hurricanes. Aside from a minor swap of fourth-line forward Josh Jooris to the Pittsburgh Penguins for depth forward Greg McKegg, the Canes did not make a move.

Despite the team currently being on a five-game skid, the Canes are still within three points of the Columbus Blue Jackets* for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot. 

Both the Canes’ position in the playoff race and the team’s recent run of poor play had speculation all over the place as to what the team would do. Some felt the team would add necessary reinforcements to boost its 26th-ranked offense, while others thought Francis would take the same approach he had the past three deadlines of selling off players on expiring contracts, such as forwards Lee Stempniak and Derek Ryan, for assets.

According to Francis, the team considered all its options for both avenues, but could not find a deal to its liking.

“I think we explored all things,” Francis said. “Certainly we looked at a lot of pieces that we could add to our lineup. I think the prices were pretty steep this time around in our eyes. I don’t think we’re at a point where we can give up first-round picks and ‘A’ prospects to try and get something that we have for a month or two and hope to get into the playoffs with that rental or maybe a guy that has a year left on his term. So we didn’t think that the prices that they were asking for those pieces fit with where we are right now as an organization.

“We looked at trying to make hockey trades; we looked at trying to move pieces out for assets too. We explored all different avenues, but at the end of the day, there wasn’t anything that we felt was best for us now and going forward.”

With the Canes currently holding the NHL’s longest active playoff drought at eight years, and at least in moderate danger of making that nine, Canes fans have begun to voice their frustrations and uneasiness at the lack of moves from Carolina’s brain trust.

Francis, when asked about the fans’ impatience, pointed out the team’s improved position this year, with Carolina entering deadline day on the bubble as opposed to nine points out at last year’s trade deadline day, and continued to preach patience as the team continues its process of building from within around young players as the team has multiple prospects having successful seasons in lower leagues.

“I think from where we were to where we are now is better,” Francis said. “We’re in a playoff hunt; we haven’t been in that. This is a legitimate one. For the next 20 games, we’ll get a pretty good read on our players moving forward. I think our team in Charlotte is sitting in a playoff position right now. … Outside of those two teams, Jake Bean won a gold medal at the world juniors and [Martin Necas] was tied for the leading scorer. I think there’s a process in doing this. To do it right, it’s not easy and it takes some time. With the addition of [majority owner Tom Dundon] I think we have the ability now moving forward to do some things that we haven’t been able to do in the past.”

With the Canes just three points out with 20 games left to play, Francis echoed the statement head coach Bill Peters has made on numerous occasions that the Canes’ roster as-is is good enough to get into the playoffs, but the team will need to improve its play after the five-game skid has damaged those playoff hopes.

“I think that it’s up to the guys in the locker room right now,” Francis said. “Like I said, they’re sitting three points out. Hopefully they can find a way to turn this thing around. It’s been frustrating, certainly, losing five heading into the deadline. Two of those games at home I thought we certainly played well enough to win and we didn’t. When that happens, all of a sudden you’re looking at a longer losing streak.”

Francis did, however, say that he does not believe Peters keeping his job after the season is contingent on the Canes making the playoffs.

“No, I don’t get that sense from [Dundon] or myself in what we’re talking about,” Francis said.

Another factor in any postseason push is the absence of top two-way forward and co-captain, Jordan Staal, who is taking a leave of absence after he and his wife Heather tragically lost their infant daughter, Hannah. The team is making the right call in giving Staal as long as he needs to deal with his grief.

Peters spoke Monday morning on how much the team has missed Staal.

“We will at some point get [Staal] back and that will help us,” Peters said. “You miss him, right? In the two games we didn’t have him, and all the situations he plays in and he’s not there, that’s an eye-opener. It’s also an opportunity for others.”

The stretch run over the last month and change of the season will give Francis and his management team a good sense as to what this group of players is capable of and determine what needs to be done in the offseason, whether that comes in early April for a ninth consecutive year or later than that if the Canes can play their way into the postseason.

“I think these guys have shown at times this year that they can beat anybody in the league on any given night, Francis said. “It’s time to step up to the plate and start doing that on a consistent basis.”

*This article was written and published before the conclusion of Columbus’ game Monday night.