Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Checkers Not to Forget About

Morgan Geekie

In my opinion, Morgan Geekie is a much better prospect than some realize. This kid has a lot going for him, yet I never see people talking about him. I considered him a dark horse to make the Canes’ roster out of training camp. He didn’t, clearly, but he’s improving every game.

Geekie was originally drafted as an overage player in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The Carolina Hurricanes scooped him up in the 3rd round at 67th overall. I must say, for what he’s done so far, it’s looking like superb value through the 2021-22 season when he, too, will become an RFA.

He had himself a stellar junior career for the Tri-City Americans, in which he posted 201 points in 215 games played. In the 2017-2018 season, Geekie led all WHL skaters in playoff goals (17).

His transition to the AHL the following season was seamless, and he became a threat on the Calder Cup winning Checkers. He posted 46 points (19 g 27 a) in 73 games played as a Checkers’ rookie, and had a cool 20.4% shooting percentage. The real noise he made, however, came in the Calder Cup Playoffs. This was when I knew the Carolina Hurricanes had a good one.

Geekie posted 18 points (8 g 10 a), and shot at 25% in 19 playoff games as a rookie. His 8 goals and 18 points both paced all rookies in the Calder Cup playoffs. That’s really good.

As for this season, Geekie has taken a step back after exploding out of the gate. I’m not concerned, though. He earned an assist last night, and currently sits at 21 points (9 g 12 a) in 35 games played. Though, he has been taking more penalties. He had 22 PIMs all of last season. Not even at the halfway point of this season, he’s got 34 PIMs. This is something to watch.

The reason I like Geekie and think he might have a shot with the Carolina Hurricanes is that he’s a right-handed center. The Canes don’t have one of those, and it can give the lineup different looks. His shot stands out to me. His senses to be in the right place in the right time are demonstrated above. And finally, something I liked from training camp was how effectively he protected the puck using his frame. It’s the little things that go a long way. I think Geekie’s ceiling is a middle-6 center, but he’d ideally fit into an NHL third line.

That’s all I’ve got! Now you know that Geekie is low-key my current favorite prospect. Maybe you learned something about him, Priskie, or Kuokkanen that you didn’t already know. But, I hope your main takeaway is that the Carolina Hurricanes farm team has several levels of depth!

Question for CC Readers:  Who is your favorite Canes’ prospect that might not be in the spotlight?