Another Carolina Hurricanes season has come to an end, and once again our Canes find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture.
While fans can’t look forward to playoff hockey, they can look forward to next season and the bright future of this franchise. This season showcased the potential of many young stars, and it is hard to say that it was unsuccessful despite missing the playoffs for another year.
Now with the Carolina Hurricanes’s season over it’s time to start getting excited about the upcoming NHL draft. The Canes boast 12 draft picks this year, including seven in the first 100 picks. This is the chance for the team to improve for the foreseeable future and gain as many valuable assets as possible.
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With their large amount of draft picks it’s very likely that Ron Francis will pull some trades on or before draft day to acquire some upper-echelon offensive talent. Francis could also opt to trade up in the draft order where an abundance of offensive talent sits.
The Carolina Hurricanes are now slated to pick 13th in the upcoming draft, pending the results of the draft lottery and final games of the NHL regular season. Here is a look at a few draft prospects that the Hurricanes should target:
Patrik Laine
At 6’4″ the right winger is a big, powerful skater with a boatload of offensive talent. Laine has put up great numbers with Tappara in Finland, following a dominant performance at the World Juniors where he posted 17 goals and 33 points in 46 games.
In the playoffs Laine has five goals and sven points in nine games thus far. His apparent chemistry with Canes prospect Sebastian Aho is another plus for the future top-six winger. While Laine is poised to go in the top five of this draft, the Hurricanes should consider moving up to acquire the Finnish star.
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Jesse Puljujarvi
Like Laine, Puljujarvi is a big right ringer at 6’3″ and 203 pounds. The power forward showcased his talent at the World Juniors where he led the tournament in scoring. This season Puljujarvi has put up 13 goals and 28 points in 50 games with Karpat in Finland. His exceptional speed, vision, and shot make him an offensive threat for years to come.
He too played on a line with Sebastian Aho at the World Juniors and has clear chemistry with the young Canes prospect. Slated to go in the top five of the draft, it is unlikely the Canes will be able to select Puljujarvi unless they trade up.
Alexander Nylander
Nylander is a 6’0″ winger who plays for the Mississauga Steelheads in the OHL. In his first year in the OHL Nylander has put up impressive numbers with 28 goals and 75 points in 57 games, including twelve points in six playoff games. The Swedish winger is known for his offensive creativity and vision. He would be a great addition to the Carolina Hurricanes but is slated to go in the top seven of the draft.
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Dubois is a prototypical power forward at 6’3″ and 202 pounds. The 17 year-old has put up fantastic numbers in his second season with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL with 42 goals and 99 points in 62 games. His size, speed, and skill is exactly what the Hurricanes need up front.
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Dubois is predicted to go in the top ten at this year’s draft by NHL experts, so the Canes would need to trade up a few slots to grab him. Dubois could be exactly what the Hurricanes are looking for.
Julien Gauthier
If you’re looking for big, strong forwards who can score goals in the dirty areas look no further than Julien Gauthier. The 6’4″, 224 pounder put up 41 goals in 57 games with Val d’Or of the QMJHL this season. Gauthier is a responsible 2-way forward with a physical presence, who goes to the net to score.
While he may not have as much raw skill as the other forward prospects Gauthier has the size and IQ to make in the NHL very soon. Slated to go in the top 15, Canes fans should hope Gauthier is on the board when the team makes their pick.
Michael McLeod
Finally, Michael McLeod is another forward who could be targeted by the Hurricanes come draft day. The 6’2″ center has a responsible two-way game and makes everyone around him better. He has the size, skill, and speed to be a top line forward in the NHL. In the OHL McLeod posted 21 goals and 61 points in 51 games. Projected to go in the top 15 McLeod could also be around when the Hurricanes are on the clock.
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This years draft looks to have a very deep draft class, which bodes well for the Hurricanes and their 12 picks. It looks as though the first few picks will be dominated by offensive prospects, as the best talent of this class seems to lay in the forwards.
Because most of the big, skilled forwards are projected to go in the top 10 the Hurricanes will probably consider trading up a few slots at the draft. With two first round picks and plenty of second picks in the next few years, Francis will have flexibility when he looks to deal players and picks. No matter what happens, the Hurricanes will surely add a valuable asset that will be a good player for years to come.