Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Kyle Jenkins Looks for Consistency in OHL this Season

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: Kyle Jenkins

Position: Defense

Date of Birth: April 22, 1996 (19)

Birthplace: Brampton, Ontario (Canada)

Height/Weight: 6’1″/175 lbs.

2015-2016 Team: Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Scouting Report: 

"Jenkins is a fleet footed two-way blueliner that is showing some poise with the puck and puck moving ability. Needs to add strength and has moments of lazy lackadaisical play that need to be ironed out. (November 2013, ELITE PROSPECTS)"

"Jenkins is a smart, two-way defender with some offensive upside… he is fairly early in the development process and will need added strength and size and improvement when it comes to the technical and tactical aspects of the game to compete at the pro level successfully. (HOCKEY’S FUTURE)"

A 7th round draft pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Kyle Jenkins has exceeded expectations at the junior level, but he will look to gain consistency in his 3rd season in the OHL.

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Jenkins skated in just 1 game in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2012-2013 season following 46 games with the Oakville Blades of the OJHL. He was a -2 in his lone contest with the Hounds.

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The Greyhounds would have Kyle Jenkins for a full season in 2013-2014, and that is when the young defenseman put himself on the map.

As a rookie in the OHL, Jenkins tallied 18 assists and 25 points in 63 games with a +6 rating. Despite having a very slim build, he was able to produce good offensive numbers. He lacked fine tuned defensive prowess, however.

In 2014-2015, just months after getting drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes, Jenkins started off the season with a roar. He skated in 38 games with the Greyhounds prior to being moved to the Peterborough Petes on January 8. In those games, Jenkins was able to tally an impressive 24 points and a rating of +17.

After a fast start with the Greyhounds, Jenkins was traded to the Petes in a trade that brought Anaheim Ducks top prospect Nick Ritchie back to the Hounds.

Following the trade, Jenkins’ production plummeted. He picked up just 12 points in the remaining 32 games of the 2014-2015 season. His rating also dropped from +17 to +12, which is still a good number for the offensive-minded blue liner.

Kyle Jenkins is entering his 3rd season in the OHL. This will be his first full year with the Peterborough Petes, the same junior team that Hurricanes captain Eric Staal played for, assuming he does not get traded at some point in the season.

Carolina Hurricanes

There’s a lot of good in Jenkins’ game. He is a great skater with good offensive upside. He can move and distribute the puck quite effectively, especially on the powerplay, and he makes good breakout passes. His shot isn’t overly powerful, but it is accurate.

One of the biggest faults in his game is his lack of size. He stands at 6’1″, 175 pounds, which makes him undersized for his frame. If he can bulk up to 185-190 pounds in the coming year, it will make him stronger on his skates, thus making him a more legitimate prospect. Undersized defensemen have a disadvantage at the pro level. Among the top NHL defensemen, nearly every single one of them is 6’1″, 210 pounds or bigger.

Jenkins is still just 19, so he has a lot of time to get bigger and stronger, but nevertheless, it is something that needs to happen.

Jenkins is a good offensive blueliner and a great skater, but he is prone to mental lapses in his own end. He is also inconsistent in many areas, especially when defending. He is often out of position, but covers for it at times with his skating ability. He isn’t a polished player by any means, but he is just two seasons into his OHL career.

As a 7th round draft pick, Kyle Jenkins is a good prospect. He doesn’t have a very high ceiling, but if he is able to put the pieces together, he could turn into a good pro.

Down the road, Jenkins projects to be a fringe NHLer with good puck moving ability. He can be a really good blueliner at the AHL level with his skating and offense, but his defensive inconsistencies and lack of size may hinder him from being a legitimate NHL player.

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This season, Kyle Jenkins will return to the Petes in a top-four defensive role. He is also expected to see a lot of special teams time. A breakout year in Peterborough would push him up the prospect rankings within the organization, but he is no Noah Hanifin or Haydn Fleury by any means. He is a couple tiers down from the crowded group of Trevor Carrick, Roland McKeown, Brett Pesce, and Jaccob Slavin who are expected to be good top-six or top-four blueliners at the NHL level.

Next: Carolina Hurricanes Player Ratings in EA Sports' NHL 16