A look at the top prospects of Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League
Carolina Hurricanes, a professional hockey team which features in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) has been producing few of the top prospects in the league for last few years.
In 2010 they drafted the forward, Jeff Skinner in the first round of the NHL draft and he went on to become a success in the league. At the age of 18, he went on to play all the games of the regular season and scored 31 goals, 32 assists for total of 63
points. The Toronto, Ontario born teenager was declared Rookie of the Month in 2011 January and became youngest player to feature in NHL All-Star game.
In 2011-2012 season, Justin Faulk followed Skinner as the first season success at NHL. Though he was not as promising as Skinner but still the American defenseman played well being a rookie. In his last year of teenage, South St. Paul, Minnesota born, played
66 games and scored eight goals, 14 assists for total of 22 points.
There are many Carolina Hurricanes’ prospects this season which could become a success playing in their first season. Some of the names are listed below.
1. Ryan Murphy
Ryan Murphy, a Canadian defenseman who has been playing for Kitchener Rangers in Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for last three years, was selected 12th overall in the first round of the 2011 NHL draft by Carolina Hurricanes.
On 16th September 2011, the 19-year-old from Aurora, Ontario, signed a 3-year entry-deal with Hurricanes but he has not made his NHL debut yet. But his performance and stats in OHL suggest that he would be playing in NHL soon.
The 5-foot-11, 168 pounder, has scored 43 goals and 129 assists, 172 total points in the 174 OHL games he has played since 2009.
2. Jeremy Welsh
24-year-old from Bayfield, Ontario, has played most of his hockey at the college level, before making his NHL debut for Carolina. Earlier this year he signed a one-year deal with Hurricanes and his only appearance came in last game of the regular season.
Hurricanes’ director of amateur scouting Tony MacDonald praised the 6-foot-3, 201 pounder, while talking to NHL.com as he said,
"He made a cameo appearance at the end of the season and handled himself well, so he's in a position to win himself a spot. He's a physical specimen with a great attitude and work ethic, and I think that's why we're excited to have him."
3. Drayson Bowman
Drayson Bowman is one of the most experienced name is the list of Carolina Hurricanes’ prospects. Though he has played 69 NHL games but they have come in three different seasons and he has not been able to cement his place in the Hurricanes’ NHL roster.
23-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was drafted 72nd overall in the 2007 NHL draft, but has played most of his hockey with Charlotte Checkers in AHL. MacDonald thinks he is a better two-way player as he said,
"Drayson is a much better two-way player than he's given credit for. He spent time in Carolina last year and showed he could play a responsible two-way game. He's at a point where he's ready to take that next step to full time duty, but it's certainly going
to be up to him”.
4. Bobby Sanguinetti
Sanguinetti is another player who is past his teenage and a prospect for Hurricanes. The 24-year-old was drafted 21st overall by New York Rangers in first round of the 2006 NHL draft and made his NHL debut for them in 2009-2010.
He was traded to Hurricanes in June 2010 and like Drayson, he also plays for Charlotte Checkers. Last season he showed great performance with Checkers in AHL by scoring 10 goals, 40 assists, 50 total points in 60 games, which earned him a call from Hurricanes
and he played 3 games with them in NHL.
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