Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Deadline Moves Create Opportunity

Bokk and Geekie

Bokk and Geekie have both been singled out here because, like Gauthier, they are right shots. When you look at the way the Carolina Hurricanes’ roster was constructed, all but two forwards, Justin Williams and Martin Necas, shoot left. The addition of Trocheck makes it three, but it is always nice to have options.

While Necas is a key piece of the Carolina Hurricanes’ future core, Williams is bound to hang up his skates for good in the very near future. With that in mind, many fans were lead to believe that Julien had an inside track to a full time NHL spot next season. Now with him gone, that attention turns to both Geekie and Bokk.

Geekie, a former third round pick, elevated his game during the Checkers’ Calder Cup run last season and hasn’t looked back since. In his sophomore campaign, he has established himself as one of Charlotte’s more consistent players. With points in fourteen straight games, a Checkers record, earlier this month he’s becoming an all situations guy.

As an all situations guy it is easy to single Geekie out as one of the guys who will benefit from the departure of Julien. With 18 goals on the year thus far, he ranked third on the team at the time of the trade, only behind Gauthier and Steven Lorentz (who we will get to a bit later). Of those 18 goals, seven of them have come on the power play.

So far this year, the Checkers’ forward lines have been a bit of a revolving door, with players constantly moving up and down the lineup depending on injuries and matchups. Because of this, Morgan has spent a good amount of time as their “third line” center. Now with “The Goat” gone, he’ll likely see an increase in ice time and with that hopefully an increase in production.

Although playing in Sweden right now, it is possible we could see Dominik Bokk join Charlotte for their playoff push once his SHL season ends. If this ends up being the case, his impact would instantly go a long way in replacing some of the offense the Checkers are going to lose with Gauthier gone.

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Off to a bit of a slow start, Bokk appears to have regained his confidence since returning from the World Junior Championships in January. Scoring from impossible angle after impossible angle, the former first rounder, acquired in the Justin Faulk deal, looks to have the makings of a future NHL sniper.

Mentioned here more so as someone who could challenge for third line right wing spot next season, Bokk moves up a bit in the depth chart after the trade. He likely would had been competing with Julien for an open spot, but now that he’s gone, Dominik now has a better chance should he earn it in training camp. More likely than not though, it won’t be for another season or two before he takes his talents to the NHL in a full time role.