The state of the Carolina Hurricanes farm system can be summed up by a recent article in The Hockey News’ Future Watch issue. Justin Peters is listed as the team’s number four prospect and in the summary the organization is happy he played well in the ECHL after failing in the AHL—and now believes he can do well—in the AHL. There is no mention of the NHL in the summary.
No one questions the ability and desire of Brandon Sutter and his suitability to play in the NHL some day. There are also high hopes for Drayson Bowman, Casey Borer and Chris Terry up front, while Jamie McBain should play on the team’s blueline someday and Noah Babin and Brett Carson will have chances to, but the high end talent just isn’t there.
Photo courtesy of the NHL
Nor is there much in depth, which means this pick could be moved around. That is especially in light of the team not having a third or fifth round choice due to trades. It is extremely possible the Hurricanes might move down in order to pick up a few more picks—should a deal make sense for them—such as this pick for two second rounders or a late first round pick and a second round one too.
Tony MacDonald is leading the draft this year for Carolina after years of Sheldon Ferguson calling the shots. Ferguson can be congratulated on some of his picks and the fact they provided the basis for a Stanley Cup team. But it should also be noted such players like Andrew Ladd (traded to Chicago for Tuomo Ruutu), Jeff Heerema, Nikos Tselios and Igor Knyazev rarely, if ever, helped the club after their selections.
Which leads to the fourteenth selection in this draft and the team can go one of two ways, knowing they don’t have much in the system they could go safe, or they could do their homework and pick a player who may have a larger risk ratio.
Due to the fact Kyle Beach is still on the Pro Hockey News board I am going to project the Hurricanes to reach for him. Beach is probably the most divisive first round talent in this year’s draft. Some people would not touch him with a ten-foot pole. Others believe his reputation as a troublemaker on and off the ice is overblown.
There are questions about his skills too. Some knock his skating, but it is important to note when he was teamed with Zach Hamill, drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round last year, he played well. It is important to note a power forward can put the puck home when he is set up properly and Beach has done that.
Photo courtesy of the NHL
In all honesty I believe this pick in real-life will be a miss. Teams are going to do their homework on this player. If his character checks out, there is a good chance he will go in the top 10. If there is worry about both his character and skating he will sink into late in the first round, not unlike Angelo Esposito did last season. However, since my PHN draft counterparts have decided to bypass Beach, I am going to stop the slide and project the Hurricanes will grab him if he is still available. Photos courtesy of the NHL
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