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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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RALEIGH, NC – JUNE 30: Carolina Hurricanes David Cotton (83) scores the game winner on Carolina Hurricanes Jake Kucharski (40) during the shootout in the Canes Prospect Game at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on June 30, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – JUNE 30: Carolina Hurricanes David Cotton (83) scores the game winner on Carolina Hurricanes Jake Kucharski (40) during the shootout in the Canes Prospect Game at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on June 30, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Goaltenders

Now a member of the Providence crease, Jacob Kucharski looks to build on the ability that made him a 7th round draft choice in 2018. He’s got prototypical size for a goaltender, at 6’4, 216lbs, and has great lateral and athletic ability. But whatever reason, that hasn’t amounted to much for him.

He had a .881 save percentage in 26 games during his draft year, which obviously isn’t good. However, he actually managed to regress last season. He was traded in the USHL, and only played 9 games with a sub-.860 save percentage.

He’s got a lot of time to develop at Providence, so maybe he’ll turn it around. But at the end of the day he was a seventh rounder, so expectations should reflect that.

Related Story. Canadien Juniors Prospects. light

Last but not least of the Carolina Hurricanes college prospects, goaltender Jack LaFontaine has had a rocky ride since his drafting in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft. He had 2 disappointing seasons at Michigan, before opting to leave school in 2018. He played last season with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, where he was stellar, sporting a .923 save percentage in 45 games.

His transfer to Minnesota University is now complete, and he’s underway in his quest to win the starting job for them. There’s a 3-way battle for playing time in the crease there, with all 3 candidates in their first year with the program.

Ideally, LaFontaine will win the job, and continue on his rightened development path. However, with the logjam of goalie prospects in the Carolina Hurricanes organization, it’s hard to envision where he’ll fit in the future.

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