Hurricanes acquire defenseman Joey Keane, trade forward Julien Gauthier to Rangers
The Carolina Hurricanes have made a trade, adding to their defensive depth while giving up former first-round draft pick Julien Gauthier.
The Canes on Tuesday obtained defenseman Joey Keane from the New York Rangers in exchange for Gauthier, a forward who was leading the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League with 26 goals, including eight power-play goals.
Keane, 20, has eight goals and 22 assists in 49 games for Hartford of the AHL this season. A third-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2018, Keane leads AHL rookie defensemen in goals and is fourth in points (30).
Listed at 6-0 and 187 pounds, the Chicago native was selected for the 2020 AHL All-Star Challenge.
Gauthier played five games for the Canes this season, with one assist. The 6-4, 226-pound winger made his NHL debut Oct. 11 against the New York Islanders.
Gauthier has played 184 career games for the Checkers and was a part of their Calder Cup championship run last season. He was the 21st overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Canes.
Keane played major junior hockey for Barrie and London in the Ontario Hockey League, and Canes forward Andrei Svechnikov was a teammate with the Barrie Colts in 2017-18.
