#7 – Roland McKeown
Age: 20
Position: Defense
Acquired: Traded from LA to CAR on Feb. 25, 2015 with 2015 conditional 1st round pick for D Andrej Sekera
CC Preseason Rank: #7
Roland McKeown was the prospect that came back to Carolina in last year’s Andrej Sekera trade, and he appears to be a great addition for this organization.
The Kingston Frontenacs captain has made his presence felt in his four-year OHL stint. His standout year was back in 2013-2014 where he put up career-highs in goals (11), assists (32), points (43), and plus/minus (+38).
Kingston saw a drop off in success in 2014-2015, which led to McKeown’s number dropping as well, but he has bounced back in a big way in 2015-2016.
Through 49 games this season, McKeown has tallied 37 points and is a +12. He has continued to become a very good two-way defenseman, and his offense has been very impressive. He is on pace to set career highs in both assist and points.
The highlight of the year for McKeown was his appearance on Canada’s WJC team back in January. He failed to tally a point in the tournament as Canada was eliminated in the first round of knockout elimination, but he was a +4 in 5 games played.
McKeown is a great skater and a very talented offensive player. He has started to become a more well-rounded blue liner through his time with the Frontenacs, but he still has steps to take in that regard.
He isn’t a physically dominant player, so he has to rely on his positioning and stick play when playing defense, but he has started to be very effective in that area, which is promising for his future.
He will move up and play for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL next year in what we will likely be a pretty decently sized role. He will likely man the powerplay and see a lot of minutes on Charlotte’s blue line, which will be very good for his development.
NHL ETA: 2017-2018
Projected Ceiling – Top-Six NHL Two-Way Defenseman
#6 – Brock McGinn
Age: 21
Position: Left Wing
Acquired: 2nd Round (47th overall), 2012 NHL Draft
CC Preseason Rank: #5
A fast and aggressive forward, Brock McGinn has had a breakout season with the Charlotte Checkers this season which has opened the door for him to get multiple looks at the NHL level.
The 2012 2nd round pick had a very average rookie season in the AHL in 2014-2015, tallying just 27 points in 73 games in Charlotte and registering a -18 plus/minus.
He entered his sophomore season knowing that it would be a big one for his development, and he has delivered in a big way.
Through 36 AHL games, McGinn has netted 14 goals and has 27 total points. He has also seen his plus/minus go from a -18 last year to a -2 so far this season.
His improved play at the AHL level earned him his first NHL call up back in October. In his first NHL shift, McGinn scored a goal against the Detroit Red Wings, and by the end of the night, he was able to tally an assist.
The story book beginning of McGinn’s NHL stint didn’t last long, however. In his next 18 game with the Hurricanes, spanning over a pair of call ups, he had just 2 assists and a -12 plus/minus.
Despite his struggles at the NHL level, he has still proven a great deal. He has played with constant physicality and aggression, and he has put himself in great scoring opportunities in the offensive zone.
McGinn’s game shapes all around his ability to make things difficult for his opponents. He has done that all year in the AHL, and has also done that at times in the NHL. This year has been big for him thus far, and if he can build on it going forward, he should become a key piece of the club’s future. Expect him to play a majority of next season in the NHL.
NHL ETA: 2016-2017
Projected Ceiling: Top-Nine NHL Two-Way Forward
#5 – Nicolas Roy
Age: 19
Position: Center
Acquired: 4th Round (96th overall), 2015 NHL Draft
Preseason CC Rank: Not Ranked
A steal for where he was selected in June’s draft, Nicolas Roy has the size and talent to turn into a special player for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Roy is a massive player. He stands at 6’4″, 196 lbs. at the age of 19. This size gives him the ability to be a true force on the ice, both with his offense and his defense.
The young power forward uses his big frame to drive the net and make things difficult for opposing goalies and defenses, and he can also get back and play well in transition defense with good skating ability and back checking. He is also aggressive on the forecheck, which makes him very difficult to play against on almost all shifts.
Nicolas Roy is also a right-handed center, which is an asset that Carolina doesn’t have a lot of outside of Elias Lindholm.
Roy is in the midst of a big breakout season with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL. Through his first two seasons in junior from the 2013-2014 season through the 2014-2015 season, he tallied 91 points in 131 games (.69 points per game). This season, Roy has netted 37 goals and has 74 total points in just 51 games (1.43 points per game). He is also a +17.
This player has taken big steps forward this season, and if he continue to trend this way, he could end up being one of the biggest steals from the 2015 draft.
His size and style of play should translate extremely well to the professional hockey leagues. Nicolas Roy is a great two-way player with a big future.
NHL ETA: 2018-2019
Projected Ceiling: Top-Six NHL Power Forward
Next: 4-2