Aaron Dell to join Carolina Hurricanes on PTO

Video surfaced last week of Dell skating with San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture, and the recently-retired Joe Thornton. The former North Dakota standout has not played a game yet this season.

The Hurricanes have been having another strange season between the pipes. Frederik Andersen had to take time away from the team due to a blood clot issue, though he has been cleared to resume skating, and should return in a month or so.

The net has been taken over by the entertaining Pyotr Kochetkov, while veteran Antti Raanta recently cleared waivers, having been optioned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Dell’s presence might be entirely temporary, as he might just be a filler until Andersen returns. However, he is definitely going to battle to for a stable job.

The 38-year-old last played with the Sharks on Valentine’s Day last February, his second stint in San Jose, playing just four NHL games during the 2022-23 season. He spent most of his time with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. While in the ‘A’, the Airdrie, Alberta native posted a 15-17-4 record, with a 3.14 goals-against average and .913 save-percentage.

Dell has been up and down from the AHL over the last couple of seasons, having battled through some injury troubles. In 2021-22, he went just 1-8-1 with the Buffalo Sabres, before having a respectable run after getting sent down to the Rochester Americans.

It has not been an ideal start for the reigning Metropolitan Division champions. The Hurricanes (16-12-3) is currently fourth in the Metro with 35 points, hanging onto the first Wild Card spot. They are just one point back of the New York Islanders for third in the division, trailing the first-place New York Rangers by eight.