Domi traded to Hurricanes by Blue Jackets in deal involving Panthers

The Hurricanes also received defenseman prospect Tyler Inamoto; the Blue Jackets received defenseman prospect Aidan Hreschuk; and the Panthers received forward prospect Egor Korshkov and a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Domi is in the final season of a two-year, $10.6 million contract ($5.3 million average annual value) he signed with the Blue Jackets on Oct. 7, 2020, one day after he was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens. He can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

The center, who turned 27 on March 2, has scored 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 53 games this season.

“We’ve been looking for someone to complement our forward group, our top nine, and felt this was a perfect fit for us,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. “He’s put up a lot of goals but (also) a lot of points. I think he’s on a 50-point pace again this year. But he’s also a pretty good playmaker, good down low, plays with an edge. Some things that we certainly were looking for.”

Even though Domi has scored one goal in his past 31 games, Waddell said he believes that trend could turn around with Carolina.

“We’ve scouted him a lot lately and think he’s been playing very well,” Waddell said. “He’s been in a little drought scoring. We just felt coming into this group we have here, and him being able to play with some pretty elite players, that he could be a big help for us down the road.”

Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes with the No. 12 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Domi has scored 307 points (99 goals, 208 assists) in 482 regular-season games with the Coyotes, Canadiens and Blue Jackets, and has three assists in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Hurricanes (41-15-6) first in the Metropolitan Division, three points ahead of the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Also Monday, Carolina signed forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an eight-year, $38.56 million contract (average annual value $4.82 million).