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Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Primer: College Edition

By Alex Ohari

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 23: David Cotton #17 of the Boston College Eagles skates against the Northeastern Huskies during NCAA hockey against the Boston College Eagles in the Hockey East Championship final at TD Garden on March 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-2. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 23: David Cotton #17 of the Boston College Eagles skates against the Northeastern Huskies during NCAA hockey against the Boston College Eagles in the Hockey East Championship final at TD Garden on March 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-2. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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VICTORIA, BC – DECEMBER 31: Jack Drury #19 of the United States versus Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championships at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on December 31, 2018 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images)
VICTORIA, BC – DECEMBER 31: Jack Drury #19 of the United States versus Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championships at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on December 31, 2018 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images) /

Forwards

Currently the cream of the crop of the Carolina Hurricanes college group, center David Cotton is surrounded by mystery. Drafted in the 6th round way back in 2015, Cotton has developed better than anyone could’ve expected, and has become the leader of the Boston College hockey squad. Last season, he scored 23 goals and 13 assists in 39 games – with his 23 goals leading the entire H-East college division.

After that splendid season, there was word Cotton would turn pro, and sign with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, at some point he decided against it, and opted to return for his senior season at BC.

Cotton said that the team has underachieved since he got there, and wants to help turn the team around. He has since been appointed Captain, and is primed for a huge year, which, may be bad for the Hurricanes.

With such an impressive college career, Cotton will have countless amounts of suitors should he become a free agent on August 15th of 2020. In the NHL, he’ll probably fit in as a middle-six player – he’s strong and plays a 200-foot game.

The Hurricanes will have from the day Boston College’s season ends (at the end of March) to convince Cotton to sign an ELC with them. If he doesn’t, the Hurricanes will lose him for no compensation. If they feel they can’t sign him, they could look to trade him where he wants to go (similar to the Adam Fox situation) to avoid losing him for nothing.

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A guy the Carolina Hurricanes don’t have to worry about losing yet, center Jack Drury is a wonderful prospect. He plays the type of game that’ll almost surely get him to the NHL.

He does lack the high-end speed that the Carolina Hurricanes covet, but the new regime picked him, so they must be happy with his overall game. Drury plays a responsible two-way game – he’s a pass first guy, with great vision and slick hands. In an ideal world, he’s probably best cast as a 3C.

Drury is embarking on his second season at Harvard, where he’s taken the reigns as their 1C. He also skated on Team USA’s 4th line at the World Juniors last year, and figures to play a bigger role for that team this coming December.

Beyond that, Drury will continue developing in school, until he and the Carolina Hurricanes decide that his next career step is to turn pro. When that may be is anybody’s guess, but the Hurricanes hold his rights until August of 2022, so it’s no rush.

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