NHL Trade Rumors: Carolina Hurricanes sent trade offer to the San Jose Sharks

With the NHL season more than halfway complete, the Carolina Hurricanes are one of the top contenders from the Eastern Conference. The team from Raleigh, North Carolina, has been one of the best in the NHL this season, sitting second in the entire league with 78 points thanks to their 35-10-8 record.

"The Carolina Hurricanes are about to smash 57,000 people into a football stadium for a regular season hockey game against a non-playoff opponent. And somehow Montreal fans will still say we don't deserve a team." - TheRaleighCobra

While the team continues to push for its first Stanley Cup title since 2006, they are reportedly interested in adding scoring depth before the March 3 trade deadline. The Hurricanes have been linked to several stars, including Ryan O'Reilly, Ivan Barbashev, and Dylan Larkin.

However, it appears that their top target is Timo Meier. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Hurricanes have serious trade interest in the winger and have likely made a trade offer at this point.

"Don Waddell is prioritizing players that aren't rentals. Could Carolina be looking into Timo Meier? The Hurricanes GM discussed his traded deadline strategy with The Athletic Hockey Show:" - The Athletic NHL

Meier would be an ideal fit with the Carolina Hurricanes, as they rank 13th in the league in goals scored. The talented San Jose forward has been fantastic for a struggling Sharks team, recording 31 goals, 21 assists and 52 points in 55 games this season.

If the Hurricanes are able to land Timo Meier from San Jose, he would become their top goal scorer, as Sebastian Aho currently leads the squad with 23 goals. Meier would be an injection of goal-scoring talent for the Stanley Cup contender.

"Where do you think Timo Meier will end up by trade deadline?" - Sportsnet

If the Carolina Hurricanes are hoping to acquire the 26-year-old forward, they will need to compete against several teams. The New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs are both interested in the star.

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A look at other players linked to the Carolina Hurricanes

Aside from Timo Meier, the Carolina Hurricanes have reportedly shown interest in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also been linked with Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings and the aforementioned Ryan O'Reilly of the St. Louis Blues.

If they can land any of these stars, they could make an instant impact for the Hurricanes.