Carolina Hurricanes: Internal Forward Options

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Should the Carolina Hurricanes look for forward help internally, there’s a few quality options in Charlotte that could be poised to make the jump to the NHL next season.

With the start of free agency just around the corner, the Carolina Hurricanes are not expected to take a run at big ticket players. Rather, they’ll look to make depth signings allowing some of the young kids in Charlotte to fight for a few final spots in training camp this fall.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Checkers received contributions up and down the line up all season long and throughout their Calder Cup championship run. They earned five trophies including the Calder Cup in a historic run for the franchise. But none of that is possible without the efforts of their players. Especially many of their forwards.

Players like Martin Necas , Clark Bishop and Janne Kuokkanen have all gotten a slight taste of the NHL over the past two seasons, but have yet to stick around long term. While Morgan Geekie and Julien Gauthier took huge strides forward this past season and, as a result, played their way into consideration for a possible roster spot.

One of the most notable holes on the Hurricanes roster currently is the lack of right handed forwards. Although the blue line is deep with righties, Justin Williams is the team’s only right shot upfront. With his future still in limbo this could soon become an area of concern. In comes Martin Necas.

Martin Necas

Drafted 12th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Martin Necas spent the first month of the 2017-2018 with the Carolina Hurricanes, although only playing in just a single game before being loaned to the HC Kometa Brno of the Czech league. This experience gave Necas a slight taste of the NHL, something that he would get again in the 2018-2019 season.

Playing in seven games with the Hurricanes in 2018-2019, Necas scored his first NHL goal October 16th against the Tampa Bay Lightning, getting sent down to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers soon after. In 64 regular season games Necas found the back of the net 16 times while adding 36 assist for a total of 52 points in his rookie season in North America.

In the Calder Cup Playoffs, the 20 years old Martin Necas appeared in 18 games posting 13 points, five goals and eight assist. Pretty solid numbers for a rookie in any professional league.

Head coach Rod Brind’amour eased 2018 second overall pick Andrei Svechnikov into the NHL line up at the start of the season by having him start out on the fourth line, giving him more ice time as the season went on and his play warranted. It is highly plausible to believe that he would do the same with Marty should Necas make the team.

Clark Bishop

Drafted 127th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Clark Bishop made his NHL debut October 20th against the Colorado Avalanche. Splitting the season in both the NHL and AHL, Bishop played 20 games with the Carolina Hurricanes scoring a single goal while adding two assists.

Playing in 38 games with the Charlotte Checkers in 2018-2019, Bishop scored three times and added three assist for a total of six points in the regular season. In the playoffs, Bishop played in 16 contests scoring twice while adding a single assist. Although these numbers aren’t anything to write home about, it doesn’t speak to Bishop’s game and what he brings to the team.

While with the Hurricanes, Bishop provided stability and a physical presence on the fourth line. The 23 year old forward could be an option for a full time role in the upcoming 2019-2020 season depending on general manager Don Waddell’s plan with depth forward Greg McKegg and recent addition Erik Haula.

If McKegg signs elsewhere as a free agent and they play Haula on the wing Bishop could find himself centering the fourth line behind Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal, and Lucas Wallmark. If they see Haula as a center Bishop may find himself as the 13th forward or back in Charlotte with Wallmark sliding down to a fourth line role.

Janne Kuokkanen

Drafted 43rd overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Janne Kuokkanen surprisingly was named to the initial roster for the 2017-2018 season. Although he’s only spent a total of eleven games over two seasons at the NHL level, the 21 year old Finn often gets overlooked among Hurricanes fans.

Missing half the season with an injury, Kuokkanen managed to put up 12 goals and 26 assist for a total of 38 points in just 48 games. Just two points shy of his total in 60 contests the year previous. This upward progression boats well for the former second rounder going forward into next season.

Although Kuokkanen has yet to record a point at the NHL level, Kuokkanen is a versatile player who can play both center and wing if needed. Spending some time on Jordan Staal’s wing in his brief stint up with the Hurricanes, Kuokkanen could provide some much needed offense on the second power play unit.

However, since he is coming off a major injury it is likely that Kuokkanen will at least start the season down with the Charlotte Checkers, playing in all situations. Should injuries occur among the forward group, Janne should be one of the first to receive a call up. Plus he’s Finnish.

Morgan Geekie

Drafted 67th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Morgan Geekie played his way on to the Charlotte Checkers’ top line during the playoffs where he registered eight goals and ten assist for a total of 18 points in 19 games.

Geekie’s play arguably could have won him the Jack A. Butterfield Award, given to the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs. If being a point per game player in the playoffs as a rookie wasn’t impressive enough, Geekie put 19 goals and 27 assist for 46 points in 73 games in his first professional hockey season.

Although Morgan Geekie maybe better off playing on the top line again next season in Charlotte, he would provide the Hurricanes with a right handed scoring option should he surprise and make the team out of camp in the fall.

If he makes the big club, it would most likely be in a bottom six role on either the third or forth line where he could easily provide the club with 20-30 points as a rookie. Either way, at just 20 years old, it looks like Morgan Geekie should have a place in the top line in the near future.

Julien Gauthier

Drafted 21st overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft with a pick acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for Andrej Sekera, Julien Gauthier was projected to be a project power forward that would take some time in the minors before he would be NHL ready. After taking big strides with his all around game with the Charlotte Checkers, it looks like “Goat” is trending in the right direction.

Appearing in 75 games in the 2018-2019 season, Gauthier set career highs in goals, 27, assists, 14, and points, 41. In the playoffs, Gauthier added five goals and three assists for eight points in 17 games while providing some physicality to the lineup.

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What stood out the most in Julien Gauthier’s game is his play away from the puck and decision making. In his draft year, Gauthier was considered by a few scouts to be somewhat of a one trick pony (goal scoring) and nothing else. Mike Vellucci did wonders with the Julien allowing him to take huge strides forward in becoming a true NHL power forward.

Looking ahead, should he make the Carolina Hurricanes roster out of training camp, Gauthier would be yet another potential right shot option. Most likely slotting as the third or fourth line right winger, Gauthier should be able to fill a Micheal Ferland type role while providing similar offensive numbers.

While it’s unlikely Julien Gauthier will be on the team opening night, it is likely that we will see him at some point in the 2019-2020 season making his NHL debut. For the time being, he should see top minutes in Charlotte with an expanded leadership role for the reigning Calder Cup Champions.

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