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Carolina Hurricanes: Checking in on the NCAA Prospects

ByOmar Abdelgawad|
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Harvard Crimson forward Jack Drury (19) skates across the blue line with the puck. During the Harvard Crimson game against the Boston University Terriers on February 11, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA.(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Harvard Crimson forward Jack Drury (19) skates across the blue line with the puck. During the Harvard Crimson game against the Boston University Terriers on February 11, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA.(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 03: A general view of the back of the helmet of Michigan Wolverines goalie Jack LaFontaine (45) is seen during a regular season Big 10 Conference hockey game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines on February 3, 2018 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 03: A general view of the back of the helmet of Michigan Wolverines goalie Jack LaFontaine (45) is seen during a regular season Big 10 Conference hockey game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines on February 3, 2018 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Goalies

Jack LaFontaine is the final player who will need to make a decision this by summer. Noone really knows what will happen to the Wolverine goalie. While playing behind Jared Moe, he isn’t really a backup as they have nearly identical number of starts this season. While his college numbers aren’t stellar there is last season to take into account.

Jack also took a year away from Michigan to play for the Penticton Vees last year of the BCHL. There he played much better and got more starts than his entire NCAA career as the starter leading them to the playoffs. That earned him a look during prospect camp and a start in the prospect game for the Hurricanes.

That all said, Jack could use some AHL and even ECHL development and should get a contract before the summer so he can get the chance to player there. With Goalies moving around next season for all levels of the team, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jack in Raleigh in the next few years.

Jacob Kucharski is… uh.. a prospect? Literally our last throwaway pick in the 2018 draft he signed up to play for Providence College this season and has yet to man the crease. before that he played in the USHL for the Des Moins Buccaneers and Omaha Lancers. There he played a combined 37 games across three seasons and never peaked above 0.881 SVS%.

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Good news is that Kuckarski has until 2023 for the Carolina Hurricanes to sign him before he becomes an FA. Perhaps he can build himself up in Providence by then. Get himself a few starts this season, and more the next and more the next.

If he becomes something then the Carolina Hurricanes and Lord turtleneck will look like a genious. If not then, he will be relegated to the sand of forgotten Draft picks. After all, they aren’t all winners. Sometimes you get guys that are worth the final pick gamble. Kucharski is one of those guys.

Question for CC Readers: Which NCAA prospect are you most excited about seeing make the transition to the NHL?

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