Carolina Hurricanes: Best/ Worst Case Scenario for 2019 NHL Draft Picks

The Carolina Hurricanes had themselves a weekend. The 2019 NHL draft in Vancouver provided fans with a glimpse at the robust talent that is soon to come through the Carolina Pipeline in the coming years; talent that could make 2019 a franchise defining draft.

The 2018-2019 Carolina Hurricanes where in the Eastern Conference Finals as a wildcard team. that accomplishment is what makes the recently concluded NHL Entry Draft so incredibly interesting. The entire entry draft system is designed to limit the talent that top teams can acquire; in an attempt at greater displacement of wealth league wide.

The Carolina Hurricanes stole the weekend in Vancouver. Armed with 12 picks, Carolina sat back -as opposed to last offseason which saw a desperate front office seeking playoff relevance once again- and let the chips fall where they may. The chips all fell favorably for Carolina.

Many pundits have given the Canes high marks for their dealings over the course of the draft and spoke of the excellent value in nearly every selection that the team made. The question, not just for Carolina but for every NHL team post-entry draft, is what these players could potentially be.

Every Front-office has their own projections, and many fans form their own opinions on how their team made out in the most pivotal offseason event. Within these projections is the absence of certainty, and the potential for sheer talent to unfold with the guise of proper development and coaching.

That begs the question; what is the worst-case scenario for all of these soon-to-be NHL prospects? Or better yet, what is the best-case scenario for each of these players? that question is one that we at Cardiac Cane can attempt to answer; when it’s all said and done, what could the career of these prospects look like?

And with that, we divulge the best-case, and worst-case, scenario for every 2019 draftee.

Rounds 5-7

Massimo Rizzo: Center, Picked 216th in the 7th Round

Best Case: 3rd Line Grinding NHL Center

Worst Case: Bottom 6 AHL Center

The Seventh round isn’t particularly where stars are born in NHL history, and that is true for Carolina; but it can be a place where contribution can be found none the less. Rizzo is a young centerman from the British Colombia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees; where he not only averaged over a point per game in the regular season and playoffs but was also named the team’s only captain.

Rizzo has the appearance of a character player. he showed continual growth while in the BCHL and won a Championship with Penticton in 2016. He has committed to the University of North Dakota, which is revered for the NHL talent they have produced and should continue to develop skill to match his work ethic and grind.

Blake Murray: Center, Picked 183rd in the 6th Round

Best Case: 2nd or 3rd Line NHL Center

Worst Case: 3rd or 4th Line Center in the AHL

Blake Murray was a very popular pick among OHL scouts. There are two things about Murray that jump off the page immediately; he’s got good size at 6’2 almost 190 lbs., and he is still very young. Murray played two seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, and had over 20 goals and 40 points in both.

The strengths of a player like Murray are all things you like to hear as a fan; he has a great shot and knows how to get it off. Everything that Murray needs to be successful should develop with time and experience. In 5 years, Murray could be a 22-year-old just on the cusp of production in Raleigh North Carolina.

Kevin Wall: Right Wing, Picked 181st in the 6th Round

Best Case: Bottom 6 NHL Forward

Worst Case: Bottom 6 Forward in the AHL

Kevin Wall is interesting. He is already 19 so he doesn’t have the benefit of outstanding youth and doesn’t bode physical characteristics that would deem him overly enticing as a prospect in that regard. But Wall, with one year in the BCHL under his belt, has proven that he can be productive.

Wall put up 64 points in 49 games with the Chilliwack Chiefs; while surpassing 30 goals. his commitment to Penn State University shows there could be a potential development that leaves Wall with an exemplary trait. At the moment, however, Wall is simply a decent hockey player who could potentially benefit from the Collegiate arena.

Kirill Slepets: Right Wing, Picked 152nd in the 5th Round

Best Case: 2nd or 3rd Line NHL Forward

Worst Case: Remains in the KHL

You know those once-in-five-years type of player who builds a great career despite their poor draft selection? Slepets could be one of those players. Slepets is a 20-year-old overager with great speed and skill.

NHL’s 2019 Draft Prospect Rankings had him 17th out of all European Skaters. He was productive in the MHL and enticed many scouts with his speed, skill, and sheer untapped potential. Many teams, however, may have been weary of his KHL contract, which keeps him Russian-based until 2021.

Round 3-4

Tuukka Tieksola: Right Wing, Picked 121st in the 4th Round

Best Case: 2nd or 3rd Line NHL Forward

Worst Case: 2nd or 3rd Line AHL Forward

Tuukka Tieksola is interesting. There are many scouts who praised the Finn’s ability to think the game and operate in the Offensive zone; yet, many scouts did not believe in his development enough to consider him inside the top 100.

There seemed to be two camps heading into the draft; either you believed in his 60 points in 50 games in the Jr. A SM-liiga as the beginning of his development, or you don’t. For either opinion, taking a flyer on a player with that kind of potential outside of top 110 is a display of savvy and intelligence for the Hurricanes.

Cade Webber: Defensemen, Picked 99th in the 4th Round

Best Case: 2nd Pairing NHL Defenseman

Worst Case: Bottom Pairing AHL Defensemen

Webber is an 18-year behemoth at 6’6. He’s got a good build that looks to be capable of adding more strength and produced 29 points in 26 games for the Rivers School in Massachusetts. Webber will eventually be joining Boston University hockey program which elevates his potential slightly.

Recent history has shown the talent that can come from Boston University. For Webber, the kind of player he becomes depends on how he uses the next four or five years. Playing professionally before playing collegiately should help him immensely in developing his body and a adding more consistent offensive game.

Dominick Fensore: Defenseman, Picked 90th in the 3rd Round

Best Case: 3rd or 4th Defenseman/ Top Powerplay Pairing

Worst Case: Bottom Pairing AHL Defensemen

Fensore is an interesting defenseman for Carolina. He is reminiscent of Jake Bean, a highly skilled offensive force who is a little undersized for NHL play but boasts speed and puck moving capabilities; yet, Fensore stands at a much slighter 5’7. Fensore has made a commitment to Boston University as well, and should benefit from their excellent tutelage

The mold that has been successful for Carolina this season was the big, defensively responsible, and offensively capable defenseman in the mold of a Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, or Dougie Hamilton. Fensore brings a unique skill set which could bode well for him in the future, as his offensive skill could develop him into an organizational necessity.

Anttoni Honka: Defenseman, Picked 83rd in the 3rd Round

Best Case: 2nd Defenseman/ Top Powerplay Quarterback

Worst Case: 6th Defenseman

Honka is an incredibly intriguing prospect. He has a lot of attributes that you covet in a modern NHL defenseman; he is right handed, which could catapult his place in a defensive corps., he has excellent hockey feel in the offensive zone, and he has the innate ability to see the play unfold before making things happen.

The negative side to a player so good in the offensive zone is, more often than not, going to be their play defensively; that is no different for Honka. Those shortcomings could push him down the order, as Carolina looks to be stacked with defenseman who excel in the defensive zone. Honka’s offense, however, should be good enough to earn him a roster spot eventually.

Patrik Puistola: Right Wing, Picked 73rd in the 3rd Round

Best Case: 2nd Line Winger/ Top Powerplay Forward

Worst Case: 3rd Line Winger/ 2nd Powerplay Unit

The pre-draft rankings for Puisola seemed to vary greatly depending on where you get your information. Some scouts had him later in the third round, some had him as an early day two pick; but both recognized that there are things about Puistola’s game that you just can’t teach.

The 18-year-old winger has decent size and loads of production with 26 points in 22 games during his last season in Finland before the Entry Draft. Many scouts define Puistola as a pure goal scorer. The most skeptical scouts note the Finnish forward may be one-dimensional, but that one-dimension is a deadly one. Development could turn him into an eventual 30 goal scorer with the playmakers the Hurricanes boast.

Jamieson Rees: Center, Picked 44th in the 2nd Round

Best Case: 2nd Line Center/ Top Penalty Kill / 2nd Powerplay Unit

Worst Case: 3rd Line Grinding Center

If there was one name throughout the entire Hurricanes draft that I felt the safest betting on eventually becoming an everyday, NHL player, it would be Jamieson Rees. That is how confident I am, not only in his work ethic, but in the kind of player that Rod Brind’Amour trusts.

One look at Rees’ highlight tape informs the viewer on his creativity, instinct, and overall speed. These are all things that are conducive to success in today’s NHL. The Hamilton, Ontario native routinely makes the difficult passes seem easy, and that is incredibly intriguing considering his offensive flair isn’t what propelled him so high among so many draft boards.

Rees’ 32 points in 37 games shows that he is a productive player and adds a certain level of confidence amidst his impressive tape. What he does for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL this coming season will certainly give the Hurricanes front office a clear perspective on where Rees stands in his development.

There could be a continued learning curve for Rees, as he continues to develop his shot and consistent offensive prowess, or he could mirror the massive production of a Stelio Matheos, who produced back-to-back 90 points seasons following his draft year.

Jamieson Rees has a higher floor that players like Matheos because he commits to the tougher aspects of the game that they simply aren’t. He is a high character player. that should quicken his assent to the Hurricanes roster. In three seasons, Rees could be viewed as the steal of the 2019 Entry Draft. Even his worst-case scenario shows that Rees may have the highest floor of most of the day two selections.

Ryan Suzuki: Center, Picked 28th in the 1st Round

Best Case: Elite Top Line Center/ Top Powerplay Center

Worst Case: Top 6 Forward/ 2nd Powerplay Unit

The incredible draft that unfolded for the Hurricanes began Friday night with the selection of Ryan Suzuki of the Barrie Colts. If you polled 10 scouts that night, and asked them if Suzuki would fall to 28th, 9 of them would call it unlikely. Don Waddell stole Suzuki in the first round, and it could pay dividends for the team in the near future.

In Suzuki, the Hurricanes get an elite playmaker. Suzuki sees the ice like very few, and his hands and feet are apt enough to make the most of his top tier instincts. The former OHL number one Pick is not a one trick pony either. Suzuki has a wrist shot that is good enough to potentially make him a regular 20 goal scorer in the NHL.

Suzuki’s 75 points in 65 games displayed his playmaking prowess through his whopping 50 assists. Many have questioned the work ethic and determination of Suzuki, as he seems to be a player who isn’t the grit and grind forward who will excel on the forecheck or battle for the physical goals that are necessary to win in the NHL.

This should not be a factor for Carolina, however, as they boast a player whose penchant for physicality and net front presence defines his game; that player is Andrei Svechnikov. Svechnikov’s play style fits Suzuki like a glove, and their chemistry is already in place seeing as they played on the same line during the season that catapulted Svechnikov to the 2nd overall pick in 2018

Suzuki is a perimeter player who is good at seeing the play unfold and avoiding the physical punishment that can accompany manning the center of the ice. He is reminiscent of Hurricanes leading scorer Sebastian Aho; where Aho is a better shot, Suzuki may become a better passer.

The best-case scenario for Suzuki is that he develops into one of the best passers in the NHL, and mans the top line employed by Rod Brind’Amour. If he can learn to be defensively responsible in key situations, then Suzuki’s impact on that top line is only limited by the work he is willing to put in.

Question for CC readers: Who will develop into the best long term 2019 draft selection for the Carolina Hurricanes?