
Connor McMichael – 18 – C – Canada
Connor played very well for London in the OHL this season and is one of the fastest players in the draft. He’s a young guy, only 18 years old, so he may be spending a season or two in the AHL before he cracks an NHL roster, but the upside is obvious. He excelled in the ultra talented OHL this past season in which he went up against a ton of future NHLers.
He also plays a game similar to that of other Hurricanes forwards. He plays at a very high pace and has a quick release. That is almost exactly what the Hurricanes seem to ask of their forwards. Though acquisitions like Micheal Ferland might say otherwise. And now that it is likely that Ferland will walk in free agency, perhaps the Hurricanes will want to bulk up rather than add more and more speed.
McMichael is also a center, which increases his draftability as the Canes are in need of some center depth. Centers are often able to play wing as well as center and usually have a better command defensively than wingers. A minor but valid point.