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Carolina Hurricanes Sign Prospect Spencer Smallman

By Matthew Barlowe

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Jake Bean puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number thirteen overall draft pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Jake Bean puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number thirteen overall draft pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Yesterday the Carolina Hurricanes signed 2015 draft pick Spencer Smallman to an entry level contract

Spencer Smallman joined other Hurricanes’ draft picks Callum Booth and Jane Kuokkanen by signing his entry-level contract yesterday.  The Carolina Hurricanes selected Spencer Smallman in the fifth round of the 2015 draft 138th overall.   General Manager Ron Francis had this to say about the 6’1″ 200 pound forward,

"Spencer took a big step forward this season.  He’s been in a leadership role for his team for the last three years, and helped Saint John to the best record in the Quebec League this year."

Related Story: Carolina Hurricanes Sign Jane Kuokkanen

The captain on the St. John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL, Smallman led his team to a 48-14-5-1 record. St. John is currently in the playoffs and on to the second round after they swept the Rimouski Océanic.  In those four games, Smallman has scored three goals and two assists.  He is fifth on the team in scoring during the playoffs.

This season Smallman increased his point totals considerably from 47 points to 79 and increased his goals from 19 to 30.  For the season, Smallman was third on the team in scoring behind Mathieu Joseph and Matthew Highmore.  Smallman is teammates with other Hurricanes’ prospects Callum Booth and Julien Gauthier on St. John as well.

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The Scouting Report

When Smallman entered the draft in 2015, Elite Prospects had this to say about him:

"A hard-working forward that can play a gritty, grinding style of hockey. Can play in all situations effectively due to his willingness to battle in his own end, and natural instincts in the offensive end. Very smart with the puck in pressure situations, and passes with precision. Possesses great hands and puckhandling skills, not to mention a sharp, accurate release. All-in-all, a versatile winger that exhibits the ability to switch from a gritty, able-bodied two-way player to an offensive scoring threat in an instant."

Smallman has definitely shown offensive improvement this year.  Take a look at these graphs by Josh Khalfin on Smallman.

Throughout the season Smallman increased in almost every offensive category even though he’s only been playing third line minutes for most of the season.  Having better scoring rates while playing less ice time than the first line is always a good sign.

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Will this translate to the NHL game?  It’s hard to say.  Smallman isn’t the most talented Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect, but apparently, the organization wants to see if this scoring bump is the real deal.  Twenty years old, Smallman will be able to report to the Charlotte Checkers next season.

Smallman has a lot of work if he wants to make it to the NHL.  The chances of him becoming an NHL regular are still very low.  But if his increased offensive output this season isn’t just a product of him being two plus years older than his competition, that chance will be greatly improved

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