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.

2. Stanislav Svozil

Okay, I tried to tell y’all there were gonna be some defenseman in this article.

Stanislav Svozil, currently ranked 20th by Consolidated Ranking, 26th by Future Considerations, and 28th by Dobber Prospects, is special.

Svozil, standing at 6’1″, 172 lbs., is currently playing for Team Czech Republic in this year’s World Junior Championship, and has been a standout defenseman since the beginning of the tournament. When not representing his country at the WJC, Svozil plays in the Czech Extraliga for HC Kometa Brno, but is currently on loan to HC Prerov in the Czech 2.liga.

Svozil’s passing and hockey IQ are among his greatest of traits, followed closely by his skating and his talent in the offensive zone, more specifically on the rush. Svozil has the makings of a powerplay quarterback in him, and can outlet pass like few others in his age group. Once established in the offensive zone, especially on the man advantage, Svozil has NHL-ready vision like no other. It might take a year or three to get the rest of his game to that level, however.

As far as draft rankings go, one of the few reasons players like Svozil (and draft classmate Corson Ceulemans, *hint, hint*) are available this far down the draft board is the sheer availability of incredible blueline talent in the first round and beyond of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Players like Carson Lambos, Brandt Clarke, and Owen Power are setting the standard for this year’s defensive prospect pool, and I am so here for it.