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.
#NHLDraft: @NHLCentralScout has released the 2020-21 Preliminary Players to Watch list. https://t.co/4uLW8oAaU2 https://t.co/6yLm8u7K4a pic.twitter.com/ClPv45k8IY
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 27, 2020
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?