A down year for Warren Foegele turned into a trade that increases the depth on defense for the Hurricanes
Warren Foegele 2020-21 Season by the Numbers
- Age: 25
- NHL Seasons: 3
- Scoring: 10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 53 games
- Advanced Numbers: 51.0 CF%, 53.1 SCF%, 53.87 xGF%, 52.0 GF%
- Average TOI: 13:02 ES, 0:05 PP, 1:02 SH
- Contract Status: Signed 3-year deal with Edmonton for $2.75 million AAV
Warren Foegele was a homegrown talent that the Carolina Hurricanes always wanted more from. When he was on, he could be a dominant force and a pest. When he was off, he would frustrate everyone will silly penalties and the inability to finish.
For these reasons the Hurricanes felt they could trade Foegele to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ethan Bear just before free agency opened up.
2020-2021 was a a prime opportunity to Foegele to take a step forward and become the quality top-nine player that the Hurricanes needed him to be. That did not happen. The magic Foegele produced in the 2019 playoffs never came back.
Foegele would drive you insane as a fan because he would make plays like this but not finish it with a goal:
Warren Foegele back-checks, steals the puck, splits the D, and nearly scores his second goal of the night.
He’s been a problem. pic.twitter.com/FaEVm133wk
— Brett Finger (@brettfinger) April 16, 2021
As a former third-round pick, the Hurricanes had hoped Foegele would become an essential part of their top nine. His play in 2020-21 did not warrant that. 20 points in 53 games showed a regression of .104 points per game over the course of a full season. While that’s not a lot, it’s not an improvement which is what the Canes needed.
Foegele signed a three-year $2.75 Million dollar contract with the Oilers which is a fair deal when you compare what Brock McGinn, who was considered a similar player for the Canes, got from Pittsburgh. The problem is the Hurricanes simply could not bring back McGinn, Foegele, and Jordan Martinook in their bottom six when there are guys like Steven Lorentz that can fill the hole for much cheaper.
Back in the 2019 playoffs, many thought Foegele could be a dynamic player who would help the middle of the lineup. But as his tenure with the Hurricanes ended after the 2020-21 season, one has to wonder if Foegele will simply go down as another prospect who had potential but just didn’t live up to it?
Poll
Leave a Reply