Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Haydn Fleury to Compete for a Roster Spot?
By Zeke Lukow
Between now and the start of the preseason, Cardiac Cane will preview every Carolina Hurricanes prospect as they enter the 2015-2016 season and what we expect from them in the coming year.
Player: Haydn Fleury
Position: Defense
Date of Birth: June 8, 1996 (19-years-old)
Birthplace: Carlyle, Saskatchewan (Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’3″/207 lbs.
2015-2016 Team: Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) or Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
The Carolina Hurricanes are full of young talent at the position of defense. Before 2015 5th overall pick, Noah Hanifin, there was 2014 7th overall pick Haydn Fleury.
More from Cardiac Cane – Players That Have the Most to Prove
Out of all of the Canes prospects Fleury may have had the most interesting 2014-2015 season. He was one of the last cuts in Canes camp and one of the last cuts for the Canadian WJC team that went on to win the Gold Medal. Fleury has turned his disappointment into motivation to work harder for his NHL spot.
During his draft year Fleury registered 46 points (8g, 38a), but had a down year in production this year with only 28 points (6g, 22a). This downtick in production is not all bad, the Red Deer coaching staff really focused on developing the defensive side of Fleury’s game. Improving the defensive aspect of his game makes him a lot more NHL ready than he was last year in camp.
Fleury is in an interesting spot as a player having played 2 years in the WHL he is looking to crack an NHL roster with a lot of talent. Because he is only 19 years old, if Fleury does not make the NHL roster, under the NHL’s deal with the CHL he will have to return to the Red Deer Rebels.
Carolina Hurricanes
Because of this rule, Fleury will be under a microscope this offseason, but has a lot of opportunities to impress GM Ron Francis and Head Coach Bill Peters. His first chance was at the Canada World Junior Championships camp where he seemed to impress coaches with his improved defensive skills.
The most visible opportunities for Fleury come later in the off season. Fleury will play in the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup in Traverse City, and has Hurricanes Training Camp to impress the coaching staff. He will have a lot of time to prove that his defensive talent has improved enough to make him worthy of an NHL roster spot.
This offseason will be a fun time for fans to watch to see which young talents can crack the roster. The Canes have a lot of young upside and every year there are players that impress the coaches and grab a roster spot. I am most looking forward to the Wuest Memorial Cup to see how the young talent on the roster have matured and positioned themselves for the future.
Fleury is known as a puck moving defenseman and has favorable size. At 6’3 204lbs, he has the size of an NHL defenseman and size that the Hurricanes have been lacking for so long. He will need to continue to work on his defense and positioning to make the NHL roster.
One of the toughest challenges can be going from one of the largest players in the league to an above average sized defenseman. He will have to rely more on his position and vision than he has had to in the past in the CHL. In one game in the AHL he was able to register one goal, however he may be too much of a risk to put in the NHL this year.
Sep 21, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Haydn Fleury (5) gets the puck away from the Columbus Blue Jackets forward Corey Tropp (26) during the 3rd period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
For the 2015-2016 season, I expect Fleury to be returned to the WHL Red Deer Rebels. With the Acquisitions of Wisneiwski and Hanifin this year, a roster spot is going to be increasingly difficult to come by. With Faulk, Hainsey, Wisneiwski, and John-Michael Liles all but guaranteed spots that only leaves 2 spots for Noah Hanifin, Michal Jordan, Ryan Murphy, Haydn Fleury, and a mass of players trying to crack an NHL roster.
Liles is on the books for $3.875 he isn’t going anywhere, despite his low level of play at times. I think Hanifin shows more upside with a better chance to contribute right away at the NHL level and will also command a roster spot. I would guess the last spot either goes to Jordan, or a young player in camp that impresses the coaching staff that isn’t Fleury.
More from Cardiac Cane
- 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida
- Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC
- Derek Stepan Ends His On Ice Career As A Hurricane
- The Southeast Rookie Showcase Will Be a Good Look at Carolina’s Future
- Noesen Ready To Provide Depth For Canes
If he were able to play the year in the AHL the decision would be a little tougher for the coaches, however it doesn’t seem too realistic for Fleury to make an NHL roster to play 82 games. I would be thrilled if he proved me wrong in Traverse City and camp. As Hurricanes fans, we have a lot to be excited about when it comes to defense.
If the Hurricanes keep Fleury in the WHL for one more year, they avoid taking a year off of his entry level contract, and can allow him to develop a complete game in the juniors. Going into next year the Hurricanes will have more defensive openings, and with another year of development Fleury will be a shoo in for a roster spot.
What are your thoughts on Haydn Fleury and the Carolina Hurricanes Defense? Keep the conversation going and leave your comments below. Be sure to look out for more of our Prospect Previews.