Hurricanes trade Ryan Dzingel to Senators for Paquette, Galchenyuk

Ryan Dzingel is headed back to the city where he's had his most success.

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have re-acquired their former seventh-round-pick-turned-two-time 20-goal scorer from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forwards Alex Galchenyuk and Cedric Paquette.

Dzingel's production has tailed off fairly significantly since his trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the Senators' dismantling during the 2018-19 season. He had five goals and 13 points in 30 games split between the regular season and playoffs to complete that season in Columbus, before signing a free-agent contract with the Hurricanes that next summer.

In Carolina, Dzingel delivered eight goals and 29 points in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season and has been limited to just four points in 11 games to start this year.

Both Paquette and Galchenyuk were newcomers to the Senators this season. Paquette was essentially a salary dump for the Tampa Bay Lightning, coming to Ottawa in addition to a second-round draft selection from the Stanley Cup champions, while Galchenyuk was signed in free agency. The two had just a single goal apiece to start the season in Ottawa, each being scratched on multiple occasions.

The former third-overall selection, Galchenyuk, 27, will be wearing a sixth different sweater in the last four seasons when he arrives in Carolina.

Dzingel will be hard-pressed to move the needle for an overmatched Senators team having a really difficult time finding traction in the North Division. He will, however, give head coach D.J. Smith a legitimate top six option, which Galchenyuk and Paquette clearly were not.

Carolina will clear close to $1.5 million in cap space with the move, offering some roster flexibility in addition to centre depth and utility deeper in the lineup.

Dzingel will have to follow quarantine rules before officially returning to Senators facilities.

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