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Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Potential 2nd Round 2021 Entry Draft Targets

By Matthew Nidiffer

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Don Waddell attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Don Waddell attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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QUEBEC CITY, QC – OCTOBER 18: James Malatesta #11 of the Quebec Remparts skates with the puck against the Rimouski Oceanic during their QMJHL hockey game at the Videotron Center on October 18, 2019 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images)
QUEBEC CITY, QC – OCTOBER 18: James Malatesta #11 of the Quebec Remparts skates with the puck against the Rimouski Oceanic during their QMJHL hockey game at the Videotron Center on October 18, 2019 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images) /

1. James Malatesta

17-year old James Malatesta rounds out my list of potential 2nd round talent the Carolina Hurricanes could be targeting in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Malatesta is largely a volume shooter, but is an incredibly effective playmaker in the offensive zone. His skating is very solid, and is only going to improve going forward.

The Quebec Remparts, Malatesta’s QMJHL team, utilize him in mainly a playmaker role, most notably for how many shots he takes and chances he generates off of those shots.

https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/1216200572350668800

In Malatesta’s rookie season with the Remparts (2019-20), he notched 23 goals and 22 assists for a total of 45 points in 59 games played. This season so far, Malatesta has scored 1 goal and 2 assists for a total of 3 points in 8 games played. Malatesta also holds the QMJHL record for fastest goal scored by a 16-year old (24 seconds into his QMJHL debut against the Victoriaville Tigres).

Ranked at 54th by Dobber Prospects, Malatesta could rise or fall a few spots depending on his continued performance in the 2020-21 QMJHL season, but I could absolutely see him as a sleeper in this draft, and could even see him becoming a solid impact player on the Carolina Hurricanes’ roster as early as the 2022-23 NHL season.

As I’ve said countless times before, the Carolina Hurricanes’ scouting department is in phenomenal hands with Eric Tulsky, Darren Yorke, and Co. I’m sure they’ll put together just as solid a draft class in 2021 as they did in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

3 Canes That Could Rebound in 2021. dark. Next

Question for CC Readers: What 2nd round draft pick eligible players could you see the Carolina Hurricanes going after?

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