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.
21 years old. 1. player. 109. Scouting Report. Goalie. Alex Nedeljkovic. Pick Analysis
Alex Nedeljkovic is off to the best start in his professional career. Nedeljkovic was drafted in the 2nd round in 2014. He had a professional tryout that year and performed solidly with the Florida Everblades. He returned to Canadian Junior Hockey for the remainder of 14-15 and all of 15-16. His first full professional season last year failed to live up to his draft status and amateur success. His save percentage last season was below .900 and his Goals Against Average was above 3.00 in 37 games split between the Charlotte Checkers and Florida Everblades.
The first game of the Checkers’ new season looked to be repeating the young goalie’s sub-par play. Nedeljkovic allowed 4 goals on 23 shots. Since the season opener, he has been better–and has only given up one gaol in each of his last two starts.
He currently has a .916 save%, a 2.35 GAA, and has won all 6 of his starts. At this point, “Ned” looks like he is living up to the expectations that he would be at least a solid NHL 1B type goalie.
Goalie. 20 years old. 2. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 109. Callum Booth
Callum Booth was drafted with the second pick of the fourth round in 2015. Last season Booth earned his ELC by playing in 47 games split between Quebec and Saint John in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was outstanding (1.67 GAA and .923 sv%) in 18 playoff games as St. John won the QMJHL title. His post-season performance was noticeable even among a number of excellent playoff performances by prospects.
With two excellent starts (sandwiched around a dud) in the Traverse City Prospect tournament, it looked like Booth might have moved past Ned as the top goalie prospect in Carolina’s pipeline. While that isn’t the case, Booth has also had a solid start with the Everblades. In his first two games he allowed two goals on 55 shots. Overall, his line is 3 wins, 1 loss, .914 sv%, and 2.48 GAA.
Pick Analysis. 20 years old. 3. Scouting Report. Goalie. Jeremy Helvig. player. 109
Jeremy Hevlig, like Booth, is 20 years old, though he was taken a year later. Both are big like so many current NHL goalies. At 6’4″, 207 lbs, Helvig is 1/2 inch taller and 15 pounds heavier than Booth.
Helvig is playing another year in junior hockey and is making the most of it. He has recently proven the adage about a short memory being a goalie’s best attribute. After his one poor start this season (giving up 4 goals on 13 shots), he has put up elite numbers in his last five starts: 1.40 GAA and .949 sv%.
Goalie. 19 years old. Jack LaFontaine. player. 109. Scouting Report. 4. Pick Analysis
Jack LaFontaine, 19, was acquired in the same 2016 draft as Helvig. He is playing at the University of Michigan. After a solid but unimpressive freshman season, LaFontaine has started strong in 2017-18. Through four games he has given up nine goals with a .927 sv%. The Wolverine goalie is another big goalie–listed on the Michigan roster as 6’3″/197.
The final member of the goalie prospects is 2017 fourth round pick Eetu Makiniemi. The Finnish netminder is also 6’3″. He is the workhorse for his under 20 team having appeared in 21 of 25 games. His current sv% is .907.
Future of goaltending for the Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes have had some proven backups in the past when the team is at its best. For example, John Grahame, Anton Khudobin, and Manny Legace were all capable backups behind Ward for a few years. Kevin Weekes used to also be a very capable backup behind Arturs Irbe.
While goalie performance is often unpredictable (see Carey Price so far this season), it is likely that the replacement for Cam Ward as Scott Darling’s backup is among these prospects. In fact, it is likely that when Darling’s contract is up after 2020-21, one of the above may well become the number goalie in Raleigh.
Next: Early look at 2018 NHL Draft targets for Carolina Hurricanes
I think Nedeljkovic will make it to the NHL in 2018-19 and prove a capable back-up. In my opinion, the battle for starting NHL goalie will come down to Booth and Helvig. I would give a slight advantage to Helvig.