Tropical Storm Warning: Five Prospects For Hurricanes Fans To Watch This Season

Drayson Bowman – Forward: Bowman is a talented young winger with significant offensive skills. He was drafted in the 3rd round (72nd overall) by Carolina in the 2007 Entry Draft. The speedy left winger is probably a step away from the NHL, but Bowman will have an immediate impact on this year’s Albany squad and will make a name for himself around AHL rinks. During his last two years with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, Bowman registered 165 points in 126 games, and Rutherford hopes he can showcase his offensive skills in the American League. Bowman likely needs more time to develop, but look for him to add scoring depth to the Hurricanes’ roster sooner rather than later.

Brett Carson – Defenseman: Carson was drafted in by Carolina in the 4th round (109th overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft, and is entering his 4th year with Albany. At 6’-5” and 220 lbs, Carson has big league size. Carson is a stay at home defenseman, whose biggest assets are his large frame, durability and skating ability. He is not projected to be an offensive threat, but will contribute in the scoring column when appropriate. He is projected to be an everyday blue-liner at the NHL level. Carson played 5 games with Carolina last year, and may see more time with the big league club this year.

Mike Murphy – Goaltender: Murphy is an intriguing prospect that ‘Canes fans should keep an eye on as this season unfolds. The two-time defending OHL Goaltender of the Year has made the jump to the pro-game this season, and Murphy will compete with teammate Justin Peters for time between the pipes in Albany. Known for his unconventional style and athleticism, Murphy puts on quite the show. However, at 5’ 11” and 161 lbs, Murphy is often criticized for lacking NHL size. But, his junior stats are impressive. In 2007-2008, Murphy posted a record of 36-7-4 and a 2.24 GAA for the OHL Belleville Bulls. Since he was drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 Entry Draft, Murphy went 40-9-4, with a 2.08 GAA and 0.941 save percentage in his final junior season. Given these impressive stats, many rank Murphy above Peters on the ‘Canes depth chart. Peters, a third year pro out of Blyth, Ontario, posted a 2.89 GAA, and a 19-30-4 record last year on a bad Albany team. Both Murphy and Peters are basically competing to back up Ward next year in Raleigh. Regardless, Murphy is only 20 years old and will need time in the minors to develop into a solid NHL prospect.

Not all of these prospects will make the jump to the NHL this year. But as the season unfolds, we will continue to monitor these players, report on their progress and look forward to their NHL contributions.

Dan Canavan is an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut. Dan regularly covers business and legal issues facing the hockey industry for ctsportslaw.com. He has appeared as an on-air guest with regard to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy proceedings on CBC Radio’s World Report. His analysis and commentary have also been published in various media outlets including The National Post, The Windsor Star, The Star Phoenix, The Montreal Gazette, The Edmonton Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Faceoff.com, and the Sports Litigation Alert. You can follow Dan on Twitter at twitter.com/DanielRCanavan.  Dan can be contacted directly at dcanavan@ctsportsgroup.com.