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Carolina Hurricanes: Who to take in the NHL Draft 1st Round?

By Bryan Walsh

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 10: An NHL official holds the cards during The National Hockey League Draft Lotteryat the CBC Studios on April 10, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 10: An NHL official holds the cards during The National Hockey League Draft Lotteryat the CBC Studios on April 10, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ON – FEBRUARY 13: Connor McMichael #11 of the London Knights skates with the puck in the first period during OHL game action against the Guelph Storm at Budweiser Gardens on February 13, 2019 in London, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
LONDON, ON – FEBRUARY 13: Connor McMichael #11 of the London Knights skates with the puck in the first period during OHL game action against the Guelph Storm at Budweiser Gardens on February 13, 2019 in London, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

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.

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