A Review of the Carolina Hurricanes First Round Draft Picks Part I: 1997-2007

Taking a look at every Carolina Hurricanes first round draft picks

2019 NHL Draft - Round One
2019 NHL Draft - Round One | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
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David Tanabe
Carolina Hurricanes v Washington Capitals | Mitchell Layton/GettyImages

1999: David Tanabe (D) 16th Overall 449 GP 30G 84A 114 PIM

Billed as an offensive defenseman and power play specialist, Tanabe never quite lived up to his hype as a first round pick coming out of the University of Wisconsin. While his 449 games played in the NHL is nothing to scoff at, he never had more than 29 points in a single season.  Tanabe’s career is a bit difficult to judge because he was forced into a medical retirement before his 30th birthday.  He was an okay NHL player who never truly lived up to expectations and had his career derailed by injuries.  The ‘Canes could have picked Barrett Jackman, a steady defensive D-man who played close to 900 games, or NHL all-stars Nick Boynton and Martin Havlat.

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