Projecting the Carolina Hurricanes prospects: Goalies

The Hurricanes organization has many strong prospects. A review of the goalies in the system indicates that one or more will make it to the NHL.

While the team in Raleigh is off to an uneven start, affiliated teams and many of the prospects had an excellent first month of the season.  This is the first part of a review of the progress of many of the players in the Hurricanes’ system.  I will also project  when they will be ready and where in the lineup they could play.

First up are the goalies.

While Scott Darling is signed through 2021, there is still a question about who will be the first successful goalie developed within the organization since Cam Ward appeared in 2005.  Unlike any season in the last dozen, there are several prospects likely to become NHL contributors.

Darling is 28-years-old and should now just be entering his prime with the team. Ward is on his way out in Raleigh and is currently serving as Darling’s backup. He could be a great mentor to refer to for some of the younger goalies in the Canes’ system. Meanwhile, Darling has only let up two goals in the past two games, one of which resulted in a win over the Florida Panthers on Nov. 7.

Carolina won its only Stanley Cup in franchise history behind solid goaltending play from both Ward and former goalie Martin Gerber. Ward led the way in the playoffs, but Gerber was key to the regular season success that landed the Canes in second place in the Eastern Conference. Carolina needs more play like that in the upcoming seasons to end this eight season playoff drought.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the goaltending prospects for the Carolina Hurricanes.