Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Potential 2021 NHL Entry Draft First Round Targets

The Carolina Hurricanes’ next draft pick is closer than you think.

The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have a litany of incredible prospects to choose from in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Let’s take a peek into the future.

We all know by now that Eric Tulsky is a genius/wizard, and the Carolina Hurricanes are all the better for it.

Tulsky and the Carolina Hurricanes have managed to string together some of the most impressive drafts in franchise history; Tulsky himself has been instrumental in assuring the Carolina Hurricanes are building the groundwork for a lasting dynasty in an era where sustained success is easy to come, easy go. Don’t believe me? Ask the San Jose Sharks, the Ottawa Senators, or the LA Kings.

In any case, the 2021 NHL Entry Draft is right around the corner. Granted, players are going to rise and fall between now and then, but it can’t hurt to look at some potential targets Tulsky and Co. might have their eye on for the first round come this July.

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The 2021 NHL Entry Draft is absolutely loaded with talented players, most of which in Round 1 are defensemen. Fair warning, two of the three players I’m highlighting here in this article are defensemen.

I know, I know, the Carolina Hurricanes (read: Ron Francis) were HUGE on drafting defensemen in the first round in years past, but now that the Canes have plenty of prospective offensive options in the pipeline, I think they might be looking to shore up the blueline with some 1st Round prospective defensive talent.

Now, to preface this, I am going to assume that the Carolina Hurricanes will keep their own 1st round draft pick this season, and will do better in the standings this season than last. This would result in a later pick than the 14th overall pick from Toronto that landed recently signed Seth Jarvis within the Carolina Hurricanes system a few months ago (I’m guessing around 25th overall or so, just to be safe). That being said, let’s dive in!

3. Logan Stankoven

Kicking off my list, I present to you Logan Stankoven.

Stankoven, currently playing for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL, is a dominant centerman. The kid was named the WHL Western Conference Rookie of the Year during the 2019-20 season (the WHL Rookie of the Year award went to Edmonton Oil King’s Dylan Guenther), and has been compared to recent draft pick Lucas Raymond (2020, 4th overall).

Stankoven’s rookie year with Kamloops saw him register 29 goals and 19 assists for a total of 48 points in 59 games played. These numbers are not bad at all, especially for a rookie; Stankoven will only progress further in the WHL, and could be about 2-3 years from NHL readiness on his current trajectory.

Stankoven’s drop passing and saucer pass are both phenomenal, but his shot and release are even better. As of right now, he is ranked 25th by Elite Prospects, 21st by Dobber Prospects, and 27th by Future Considerations.

As you can see from the video showing Stankoven’s 4 goal performance against the Victoria Royals earlier this year above, the kid knows how to score, and how to score often. Surely this kind of offensive talent, if allowed to slip into the mid-to-low 20’s-30’s (where the Carolina Hurricanes will hopefully be), Tulsky would urge Don Waddell and Co. to make the call and snag him.

1. Corson Ceulemans

Corson Ceulemans (not pictured), is my number one pick for who the Carolina Hurricanes should be targeting in the later stages of Round 1. This kid is literally the second coming of Cale Makar; more on that later.

I can’t say enough about Ceulemans and how incredible of a defenseman this kid is going to turn out to be.

In his rookie season with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, Ceulemans registered 5 goals and 30 assists for a total of 35 points in 44 games played. Ceulemans is a victim of circumstance when it comes to this year’s draft. In any normal NHL Entry Draft, he’d be a Top 5 pick; who knows, he might even still manage to climb that high. As of right now, though, Ceulemans is ranked 21st by Consolidated Ranking, 17th by Future Considerations, and 38th by Dobber Prospects, and will likely end up somewhere between the 15th slot and the 25th slot on the board of draftees.

Ceulemans has been compared to none other than Colorado Avalanche wunderkind Cale Makar, in both development path and play style, for several years now. Ceulemans is not only gifted with the puck and in the offensive zone, but his game off the puck and in the defensive zone has grown by leaps and bounds in the past year or two. According to Sean Beissel, OHA Bantam Prep Head Coach:

“Corson is a player with outstanding skill and vision. His ability to handle the puck in traffic with poise and calmness is one of the finest I have ever coached. His skating stride is strong, long and efficient. He really matured as a defender and his play without the puck has become a far bigger strength. His a personality is one of humor and ease. He is a mature, focused and driven young man.”

Ceulemans is currently 17 years old, but could very easily break into the NHL in the next two years or so and absolutely tear it up, similar to Cale Makar in the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In any case, the Carolina Hurricanes, and thusly Eric Tulsky et al., have quite the job ahead of them to prepare for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. If history is anything to go off of (and I believe it is), whoever the Carolina Hurricanes decide to pick will be just the right fit for the system.

Question for CC Readers: Which 1st Round talent prospects do you have your eye on this year?