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

By Joshua Ryan

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 22: A general view of the draft floor prior to the Carolina Hurricanes pick during the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 22: A general view of the draft floor prior to the Carolina Hurricanes pick during the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ST CATHARINES, ON – OCTOBER 11: Ryan Suzuki #61 of the Barrie Colts skates with the puck during the second period of an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at Meridian Centre on October 11, 2018 in St Catharines, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
ST CATHARINES, ON – OCTOBER 11: Ryan Suzuki #61 of the Barrie Colts skates with the puck during the second period of an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at Meridian Centre on October 11, 2018 in St Catharines, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

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.

light. Trending. Rod Brind'Amour Snubbed for 2019 Hockey Hall of Fame...Again

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

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