Carolina Hurricanes: 2014 Draft Class One of Best in NHL

Wallmark, Nedeljkovic and Bishop add depth

Lucas Wallmark was the team’s fourth-round pick and has become a pleasant surprise. The 23-year-old Swede played in all but one of Carolina’s games this season and finished with 10 goals and 18 assists. He chipped in a goal and four assists in the postseason. If Wallmark continues to develop, he should provide capable minutes on one of the bottom two lines for years to come.

Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was the team’s second-round pick and has emerged as one of the top goaltending prospects in the AHL. Since goalies generally take longer to develop, his progress is right on track. He could easily serve as the team’s No. 2 goalie next year behind Petr Mrazek (assuming the Canes’ re-sign Mrazek and decide not to re-sign veteran Curtis McElhinney).

Clark Bishop also contributed this season. The fifth-round pick appeared in 20 games, scoring a goal and adding two assists. He could get a look next season for a spot on the fourth line, but he may also get lost in the shuffle with the bevy of frontline prospects (Martin Necas, Janne Kuokkanen, Nicolas Roy among others) moving through the system.

Carolina’s other picks that year were Josh Wesley (fourth round) and Kyle Jenkins (seventh-round). Wesley, the son of former Hurricanes great Glen Wesley, split the 2018-19 season with Florida and Charlotte but has struggled to establish himself as an NHL prospect.

Grade: A-

Carolina and Vancouver are the only teams with five 2014 draft picks to see NHL ice time, but one of Vancouver’s selections has already returned to Russia and another was traded before playing for Vancouver. The lack of a superstar keeps the Hurricanes from receiving an A, but any class that produces four players who could enjoy lengthy NHL careers is a success by any measurement.

Missed out on: David Pastrnak was the 25th pick in the first round. In 320 career games for Boston, he has tallied 132 goals and 154 assists. Viktor Arvidsson (102 goals, 84 assists) was taken in the fourth round by Nashville, and Brayden Point (91 goals, 107 assists) was taken in the third round by Tampa Bay.

Bust: Connor Bleackley was the 23rd pick in the first round by Colorado. He failed to sign with the Avalanche, which traded his rights to Arizona, which couldn’t sign him either. He went back into the draft and was taken by St. Louis in the third round in 2016, but he’s yet to make it out of the minor leagues with the Blues. He’s the only first-round pick from 2014 not to play in the NHL.

Question for CC Readers: Who should the Carolina Hurricanes draft with the 26th Pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft?