The Carolina Hurricanes aren't going to part with a significant asset to acquire a player they might lose in the offseason.

The club has told other teams it will not trade its 2023 first-round pick for a rental player - in other words, a pending unrestricted free agent - before the March 21 trade deadline, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Carolina sent its 2022 first-round and third-round selections to the Montreal Canadiens after Montreal chose not to match the Hurricanes' offer sheet for forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi in September.

The Hurricanes secured a separate 2022 third-rounder from the Chicago Blackhawks in July for a third-round pick in the 2021 draft, which took place later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carolina currently has selections in each round of the 2023 and 2024 drafts.

The Hurricanes entered Saturday atop the Metropolitan Division and rank third in the NHL in points percentage.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.