Cardiac Cane
Fansided

Revisiting the Carolina Hurricanes 2010 Draft Class

By Alex Ohari

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 31: Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing Jeff Skinner (53) during the 2nd period of the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the New York Rangers on March 31, 2018, at PNC Arena (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 31: Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing Jeff Skinner (53) during the 2nd period of the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the New York Rangers on March 31, 2018, at PNC Arena (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 8
Next

2nd round, 37th overall: D Justin Faulk

In what may have been the best pick of the entire 2nd round of the 2010 draft, the Carolina Hurricanes took the now fan-dividing Justin Faulk, in a hope to rebuild their weakening D core at the time. Though often criticized for his defensive lapses, there’s no denying the impact Faulk has made on the Hurricanes.

Faulk leads all players from that second round in games played with 559, which is the 6th most in the entire draft. As a defenseman, his 258 points leads all players from that 2nd round, with Tyler Toffoli (256) and Jason Zucker (214), both forwards, the only 2 players in Faulk’s proximity.

OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 12: Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Justin Faulk (27) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators on February 12, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 12: Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Justin Faulk (27) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators on February 12, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

To put in perspective just how good of a pick it was, no defenseman selected in the 2nd round has even as many points as Faulk has goals (85). Defenseman selected ahead of Faulk in the first round include Erik Gudbranson, Brandon Gormley, Dylan McIlrath, Derek Forbort and Jarred Tinordi.

Faulk, now going into his 9th season with the team, has 2 All-Star games on his resumé, and served as a co-captain for the team during the 2017-18 season. Now 27-years old and in his prime, Faulk has one year left on his deal, and will be a UFA in the summer of 2020. The longest tenured Hurricanes player, the team will have a difficult task of re-signing Faulk, who could command a big-money deal on the free agent market. No matter what the case, he’s been a great Hurricane, and all things considered, a steal in the 2nd round.

Pick Grade: A+

Home/Analysis