Predictions: Who Will The Canes Draft?
With the 2017 NHL draft beginning in nine days, the Carolina Hurricanes need to decide who they will be drafting 12th overall.
In the last three drafts, the Carolina Hurricanes have elected to go with a defenseman as their first selection. It is Ron Francis’ bread and butter drafting wise.
However, organizational needs means it is likely a forward this year. The Canes have quite a few options, hailing from different corners of the world. Here are three likely selections:
Lias Andersson
Currently playing for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League, the 5’11 forward plays well in front of the net; with most of his goals coming from below the face-off circles. Lias Andersson seems to have a strong hockey sense and can tell where the puck is going to be. He knows how to get open in areas of the ice usually well guarded. In the 2016-2017 season, Andersson played in 42 games, scoring nine goals and assisting in 10 for a total of 19 points.
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In international play, Andersson scored 5 goals and tallied 4 assists in 7 games played for Sweden at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship. He followed this up with 3 goals scored at the 2017 IIHF U20 World Championship.
Andersson can bring strong positioning and strong hockey sense to Carolina, but most likely needs one or two more seasons in Sweden or in the AHL before he would be able to make a visible impact at the NHL level.
Eeli Tolvanen
Originally from Finland, this fast forward has spent the past two seasons in the USHL. He has played for the Sioux City Musketeers. Eeli Tolvanen is a sniper through and through. Both is slap and wrist shots are strong and he knows how to pick corners from anywhere in the offensive zone. Only 18 years old, this left winger has racked up quite a few points during his time in the USHL.
During his first season (2015-2016), Tolvanen played in 49 games for the Musketeers, finishing with 17 goals and 21 assists for a total of 38 points, landing him a place in the USHL All-Rookie team. He follow this up with an even strong sophomore campaign. Playing in 52 games for Sioux City in the 2016-2017 season, Tolvanen scored 30 goals and assisted on 24 for a total of 54 points and impressive 18 +/-.
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He is currently committed to play NCAA hockey at Boston College for the 2017-18 season. Tolvanen is expected to go earlier than 12 in the draft, but may be overlooked due to smaller size, as he weighs 181 pounds and stands at 5’10”. If Carolina were to get Tolvanen, he would bring some much needed speed and scoring to the Canes offense.
Michael Rasmussen
One of the strongest North American players, Michael Rasmussen is an elite center. Currently playing for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) the Canadian born Rasmussen knows how to play in front of the net.
Rasmussen knows how to push his weight around in front of the net and get open to score. In his most recent season, Rasmussen played in 50 games, tallying 32 goals and 23 assists for a total of 55 points. During the 2015-2016 season, Rasmussen played 63 games, scoring 18 goals and assisting on 25 for a total of 43 points.
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Rasmussen knows how to crash the net and put rebounds in the back of the goal, as well as using his size to his advantage and get open even when heavily covered. Standing 6’6″ and weighing 221 pounds, Rasmussen could bring some size and scoring to Carolina.
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