The Hurricanes continue to rotate through seventh defensemen, with rookie Brett Pesce getting the call today to join the team as they head to California.
This marks the second recall of the season for Pesce. The 20-year-old spent two games with the Hurricanes last week but did not make his NHL debut, instead serving as a healthy extra for both games. In Charlotte, Pesce has recorded three points (1g, 2a) in three AHL games, including a helper in last night's loss to Grand Rapids.
After losing James Wisniewski for six months with a knee injury, Carolina has chosen to rotate through several prospects to fill the hole in the roster, with Pesce, Rasmus Rissanen and Danny Biega all having served that role at some point for the Hurricanes this year. Like the Checkers, the Hurricanes are in the middle of a long road trip, which continues Friday in Los Angeles.
For the Checkers, the move will lead to another lineup shuffle. Rissanen will slot back in for Pesce, who played alongside fellow rookie Jaccob Slavin last night in Grand Rapids. It also frees up a spot on the blue line, presumably for Jake Chelios, who has lit it up with five points in his first three games in a Charlotte sweater, though rookie Tyler Ganly is also an option. The Checkers continue their month-long road swing with two more games this week, tomorrow in Grand Rapids and Sunday in Chicago.