Carolina Hurricanes add former first-round pick in free agency to bolster their blue line
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Pierre-Olivier Joseph signs a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, adding depth to the blue line after stops in Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Vancouver.
The Carolina Hurricanes have added depth on the back end, signing veteran defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year contract.
The move gives Carolina another experienced body on the blue line heading into the season, with Joseph bringing NHL mileage from three stops over the past several years.
Joseph, a first-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2017, never suited up for the team that drafted him.
He was flipped to Pittsburgh in the 2019 trade that sent Phil Kessel out west, and it was with the Penguins where he carved out a real role, playing parts of five seasons there across two separate stints.
A well traveled veteran
Since first leaving the Penguins organization, Joseph has bounced around the league.
He signed with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent in the summer of 2024, then was traded back to Pittsburgh that December.
Last July, he found a new home with the Vancouver Canucks, appearing in 23 games for the club this past season.
Now it's Carolina's turn to see what Joseph can offer.
He's a mobile, left shot defenseman who's typically logged bottom pair minutes, and at this stage of his career projects as depth who can step in if injuries hit the Hurricanes blue line.
Details on the signing were shared by the team's official account.
What it means for the Hurricanes
Carolina has built its identity around depth and versatility on defense, and a low risk, experienced piece like Joseph fits that mold.
He won't be counted on for a top four role, but he gives the organization another NHL caliber option to call up during a long season.
For a team with championship aspirations, moves like this rarely make headlines, but they can matter once the injuries pile up in February and March.
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