Ben Shelley: Hurricanes are seeing the rewards of stockpiling draft picks

All the Canes need is star power with all those assets to use. Elite goalie being a priority.

Almost every team has the ability to make dumb UFU signings. So many do. But the smart game is building through the draft. That is probably the reason it shocked people to see Ron Francis let go. This team might be flying under radar, but it will cause some damage very soon. A rock solid goaltender (Lehner?) is all that's missing.

Ben, I thought the same thing about Kuokkanen, but I also was wondering why he was not brought up to Raleigh for a long time! Maybe, he just plateau'd , or didn’t work hard enough to make RBA happy with him? That makes sense to me!

Ron Francis began the stockpiling of draft picks and Waddell continued it. Francis was a big change in direction from Rutherford. After this seasons trades the farm system is somewhat bare of NHL calibur prospects at forward and center.

I do not like the move to Chicago from Charlotte. A good financial move but bad for practical reasons with regards to proximity and the fan base.

Keep that defensive core together, draft wisely, and find a B+ level starting goalie, and there’s future Tampa-like dominance here for a nice chunk of time once the kids mature.

Who knows? Maybe even achieve what the Lightning haven't with their crew

All the Canes need is star power with all those assets to use. Elite goalie being a priority.
- Nighthawk

Agreed, adding a starter is a game-changer or the Hurricanes.

Thanks for reading!

Almost every team has the ability to make dumb UFU signings. So many do. But the smart game is building through the draft. That is probably the reason it shocked people to see Ron Francis let go. This team might be flying under radar, but it will cause some damage very soon. A rock solid goaltender (Lehner?) is all that's missing.
- Hardbalz

Lehner is my pick for sure.

Ben, I thought the same thing about Kuokkanen, but I also was wondering why he was not brought up to Raleigh for a long time! Maybe, he just plateau'd , or didn’t work hard enough to make RBA happy with him? That makes sense to me!
- randycane

My guess is just that there wasn't really the room for him yet. He's only 21 years old so there was definitely no rush to bring him up, plus the Hurricanes have too many middle-six left wingers as it is and it would've been very crowded if he was added to the mix.

Ron Francis began the stockpiling of draft picks and Waddell continued it. Francis was a big change in direction from Rutherford. After this seasons trades the farm system is somewhat bare of NHL calibur prospects at forward and center.

I do not like the move to Chicago from Charlotte. A good financial move but bad for practical reasons with regards to proximity and the fan base.
- Barbecued Hockey

I'm still pretty okay with Carolina's prospect pool right now. They don't really need any more centers at the moment, with Aho-Trocheck-Staal-Geekie and have Drury/Suzuki/Rees for down the road. They've also got five of their top-six forwards for the long-term already on the roster and are really just lacking at left wing right now. Given the age of Aho/Necas/Svechnikov/Teravainen and even Trocheck, I think it's fine that the pool is thinner, as long as it's stocked back up in a couple years down the road.

Keep that defensive core together, draft wisely, and find a B+ level starting goalie, and there’s future Tampa-like dominance here for a nice chunk of time once the kids mature.

Who knows? Maybe even achieve what the Lightning haven't with their crew
- Hesh_

I think higher than a B+ level starter would be ideal but yeah, adding a goalie will be key.