The Carolina Hurricanes were deep at the center position during the 2022-23 season with Sebastian Aho, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal, which limited options for 23-year-old Jack Drury.
Drury, a native of New York, split time this season between the Hurricanes and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. In 38 games for Carolina, Drury had eight points and added three assists during 13 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.
Meanwhile in the American Hockey League, Drury recorded 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists), 23 penalty minutes and was a plus-two in 37 games.
Drury will be entering the final year of his entry-level contract during the 2023-24 season that sees him earn $925,000. While it's unlikely that the Hurricanes want to trade Drury this early into his professional career, as Lavalette says, he could be apart of a big trade for the Hurricanes. One name Don Waddell could have his eye on this off-season is Senators RFA forward Alex DeBrincat, who doesn't want to remain in Ottawa.