• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Carolina Hurricanes

3 Prospects the Hurricanes Must Consider Drafting

By Philip Botti June 23rd, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

New Regime in Carolina

This week the Hurricanes took a huge step forward as a franchise when they selected Bill Peters as their next head coach. He will be only the fourth coach hired in the teams history. The new coach will now join the recently appointed General Manager Ron Francis in making a decision on which player the team will pick with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft. Last season Ryan Murphy and Elias Lindholm played big minutes for the NHL team, but left the AHL team looking for new talent to mold. This draft will be a good time for the new coach and GM to replenish that system and add some future talents to the organization.

Brendan Perlini

Brendan Perlini is my top pick for the Hurricanes this season. I think the OHL forward from the Niagara IceDogs will be a perfect fit for the team. The Hockey Writers draft writers compared Brendan Perlini to NHL player Bobby Ryan in their Draft Prospect Profile. Perlini has a huge frame standing around 6’3’’, and weighing about 205 pounds. He has great physical frame for a young player, and he still has time to gain more size. He has killer speed for his size, and has a great natural hockey sense when it comes to scoring and making the correct pass in all three zones. He plays the wing and would fit perfectly on a line with Jordan Staal in a few years. He is still pretty raw, and won’t be on the NHL roster for a few years, but will help add a decent prospect to the developmental system. Below is a little video of what kind of skills Perlini can bring to the Hurricanes down the road.

Nikolaj Ehlers

Nikolaj Ehlers [photo: David Chan]

Nikolaj Ehlers [photo: David Chan]

Next prospect that peaks my interest for the team is Nikolaj Ehlers who is a super skilled winger that plays in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. Ehlers might be one of the fastest wing players in this draft. Ehlers is smaller than other targets for this years draft, but he makes up with it with his incredible speed. He might be a few years away from starting in the NHL, but the draft experts at The Hockey Writers compare him to Patrick Kane which makes him a lot more interesing. He also already has a great shot and knows how to find the back off the net. He is 5’10” and 175 pounds, and I think he is just a little two small for the Hurricanes at this time. The Hurricanes have depth in their quick smaller forwards, and the team needs to starting adding more size to their depth.  Here is Ehlers scoring two goals for his QMJHL team this year.

Haydn Fleury

I don’t expect to see a lot of defenseman go early in the draft this year besides Aaron Ekblad who should be the first player selected this year. Haydn Fleury should be the next defenseman to come off of the board.  He might be a few years away from making an NHL roster but he has the size and skill to grow into a great two-way defenseman. The Hockey Writers Draft Profiles compare him to a more advanced Ben Lovejoy and consider him to be a decent second line pairing in the future. Fleury played with Red Deer Rebels in the WHL last season as well as making a few appearances for the Canada U18 team. He has good defensive instincts, and knows how to use his big frame. He was seen as a leader on his Red Deer team last year makes him a plus. If the Hurricanes decide to go defensive with their first pick, I don’t like them staying at seven. The Hurricanes definitely go offense with their first pick, but Fleury is still an interesting prospect if the team decides to move back in the draft. Fleury isn’t the most exciting offensive prospect but here are some of his best moments from the 2013-2014 season.

Who Will They Pick?

The Hurricanes need to draft a big power forward that can compliment Jordan Staal in the future. Staal needs some help offensively and getting him a big winger offensive winger could get the numbers he put up in Pittsburgh. Nikolaj Ehlers may be a great player in the NHL down the line but looking at the team has enough small, speedy players like Jeff Skinner, Nathan Gerbe, and Elias Lindholm. The Hurricanes need more proven veteran defenseman and I don’t think adding a player like Fleury is major for the team right now. Perlini is the best option. Some scouts say he is the biggest threat of being a draft bust, but you can say that about basically any prospect in the top ten. Perlini might be two or three years away from making an impact on the NHL roster but having someone of his size and skill set in the waiting will give the Hurricanes a big weapon in their system. If Brendan Perlini grows into the player he supposed to he will be able to make an impact when he is ready in the league, and the current youth on the roster should help take some pressure off of rushing the prospect into the NHL squad.

 

  • Tags
  • Brendan Perlini
  • Haydn Fleury
  • Nikolaj Ehlers
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 19th 7:42 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Wild Acquire Ian Cole From Avalanche for Greg Pateryn

Jan 19th 6:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Need to Be More Disciplined if They Want to Stay Hot

Jan 19th 5:50 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

9 Blue Jackets’ “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” Fun Facts

Jan 19th 5:40 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Babcock Bombs as Former Leafs Coach Tries to Clarify Marner Drama

Jan 19th 5:25 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Are 3-0, But Still Have Plenty of Work To Do

Jan 19th 5:15 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers News & Rumors: Essential Workers Night, DeAngelo, Trouba & More

Jan 19th 5:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Should Add Forward Oliver Okuliar to Prospect Pool

Jan 19th 4:55 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens: 3 Takeaways from Week 1

Jan 19th 4:45 PM
Hockey History

Top 3 Penguins Trades Under Jim Rutherford

Jan 19th 3:45 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Weekly: Up and Down Start to the 2020-21 Campaign

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information