Carolina Hurricanes Top 10 Prospects of 2015
By Brett Finger
Honorable Mentions
Lucas Wallmark
Position: Center
Age: 19
Acquired: 4th round (97th overall), 2014 NHL Draft by CAR
Lucas Wallmark is a smart and creative hockey player out of Sweden and is one of the most intriguing players in the system for Carolina. Wallmark has stoodout in a very good way in international play with his Swedish U20 team over the past couple of years and has made his way to the professional hockey league in Sweden, and he has had some success.
At 6’0″, 176 pounds, Wallmark needs to get bigger and stronger in order to make his way to the North American leagues. Once he comes over seas, he will likely need a year or two in the AHL before making a case for the NHL, but with that being said, his skill set and ability to think the game very well makes him a good bet for the NHL as a creative two-way forward at some point in the future.
NHL ETA: 2018-2019
Projected Ceiling: Third-line two-way forward
Josh Wesley
Position: Defense
Age: 19
Acquired: 4th round (96th overall), 2014 NHL Draft by CAR
Josh Wesley certainly has the genes to make it as a defenseman in the NHL. If you don’t agree with me, go to the PNC Arena and look up. You’ll see his father’s #2 hanging in the rafters.
Does Josh have the same potential as his father Glen Wesley? Probably not, but he definitely has his upsides. Josh Wesley is a very raw player with a great, big frame to work with at 6’3″ and 194 pounds.
He is still working on his technical game and learning how to be as reliable as possible as a defensive defenseman, but if he continues to put the work in, he can make a run at the NHL in the future. That being said, his ceiling is hard to project considering how raw of a player he is currently. He will likely go back for his 3rd year with the Plymouth Whalers this season.
NHL ETA: 2020-2021
Projected Ceiling: Third-pairing defensive-defenseman
Warren Foegele
Position: Left Wing
Age: 19
Acquired: 3rd round (67th overall), 2014 NHL Draft by CAR
Warren Foegele is another interesting player with a bit of risk. Carolina took a flyer on the Canadian prep-school star in 2014 with hopes he could develop into a diamond in the rough, and he certainly does have talent.
Foegele is coming off of his first year at the University of New Hampshire (teammates with fellow Canes prospect Brett Pesce) and played in a third-line role for most of the year. He was able to notch 16 points in 34 games in a secondary scoring role, which is not bad for a freshman by any means.
Again, he is likely a few years away from the NHL. He still needs to get stronger and develop his raw talent, but if he can do so, he could be a useful NHLer in the future. He still has a few more years in college and likely some AHL time ahead of him before then, though.
NHL ETA: 2019-2020
Projected Ceiling: Third-line scorer
Next: No. 10-8