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Carolina Hurricanes: Defensive prospects at the All Star Break

By Conor Power

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 30: Carolina Hurricanes Luke Martin (39) and Carolina Hurricanes Eetu Luostarinen (43) battle for a loose puck during 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 Luke Martin (39) and Carolina Hurricanes Eetu Luostarinen (43) battle for a loose puck during the Canes Prospect Game at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on June 30, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 30: Luke Martin #2 of the Michigan Wolverines follows the play in front of Brenden MacLaren #24 of the Ferris State Bulldogs during game two on day one of the 55th Annual Great Lakes Invitational Hockey Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on December 30, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Michigan defeated Ferris State 4-1. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 30: Luke Martin #2 of the Michigan Wolverines follows the play in front of Brenden MacLaren #24 of the Ferris State Bulldogs during game two on day one of the 55th Annual Great Lakes Invitational Hockey Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on December 30, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Michigan defeated Ferris State 4-1. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Luke Martin

Luke Martin is one of the guys that comes to mind for me as someone who could quickly establish himself in the Carolina Hurricanes organisation. The St Louis native is currently playing in the NCAA with Michigan university, but why should you care about someone that’s still in college?

Martin is listed as 6’2, 201. That is a BIG man. He’s not known for scoring points galore. He’s only tallied 24 points over the last 4 years at Michigan. What you may look towards is his plus/minus. I will be the first to tell you the flaws of this stat,  but being a plus player across 4 years in the NCAA means you’re doing something right.

Martin was a Canes draft pick in 2017, taken 52 overall in the 2nd round. What makes Martin important is that Martin is one of the players drafted from the picks Carolina got back from the New York Rangers in the Eric Staal trade. However well Luke Martin pans out could show that trade to be better for Carolina, seeing as Eric Staal is now a member of the Minnesota Wild.

I apologise for my Staal-ing (but not that pun) so back to Luke Martin. He’s a right handed D man who was very highly touted when he was drafted. His obvious comparable to a current Hurricane is Brett Pesce. A player who puts defense first, with some signs of extra offense somewhere down the line if he keeps working with high quality players.

https://twitter.com/umichhockey/status/1055537810155954176?s=20

In truth Luke Martin is still a few years out from the NHL, but he has a bright future as a defensive D man if he can take that next step in establish himself as a shutdown defender with a scoring threat. If he can add that scoring aspect to his game, he’s going to be quite the asset. He has a very promising future ahead of him.

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