Jun 13, 2012
In 2010 the Carolina Hurricanes sat with the seventh overall selection in the NHL Entry Draft, and the organization struck gold with the pick of Jeff Skinner. Now sitting one pick back, the team feels that this year's draft is deep enough for it to happen again.
But how much value can be found with the eighth pick in the NHL draft and what do the Canes need?
Carolina has a need for more firepower and size up front. This is a draft that is loaded with top blue-liners that might be too good to pass up, but may also put added value on the higher rated forwards.
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That is the question facing Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford as draft day approaches, June 22 at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
"It’s deep with defensemen at the top end of the draft, probably the deepest we’ve seen in a long time for that position," Rutherford said in an interview with 620AM The Buzz's Mike Maniscalco Monday. "You could go one through ten and there are a couple of guys who are rated pretty high at the one or two spot, but you could get a player at eight as you could right at the top of the draft.
"We obviously have to pick the right one and make it work, but we’re excited about that."
There is reason to be excited, the Canes found that player with the selection of Skinner at the seven spot. That of course doesn't predict the organization can hit the lottery again. The NHL draft, as much and maybe more than any other, is filled with more question marks on the available talent. Most mock drafts have the Canes selecting a forward with the pick, but the organization has been very good at keeping who they like a secret. With the need seeming to be up front would the organization think about making a deal for a better pick?
Rutherford explained there is the opportunity to move up in the draft.
"You know, if you move up you get a guy that you maybe have rated on your list at that actual spot where you’ve moved up instead of waiting to see if you get him, or take whatever the option is, that is something I might explore," Rutherford said.
The Canes have several avenues to use if the organization wants to move up in the draft, be it trading some of the players in the system that haven't been able to consistently crack the NHL roster or moving one of the extra second or fourth round selections. At this point, what the team will not have to do is any extra scouting, Rutherford said there are only a few things left in the process before June 22nd.
"Most of it is done, we will interview players when we get to Pittsburgh, probably 8-10 players on Wednesday and Thursday and get a final opinion of their personalities," said Rutherford.
Going back to 2000, there has not been an All-Star selected with the eighth pick, but there have been several solid players and a few coming into their own this past season. Players like Phoenix right winger Mikkel Boedker, Philadelphia defenseman Braydon Coburn, Minnesota center Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Minnesota right winger Devin Setoguchi have been selected at that spot, not Hart Trophy candidates but solid players. The list is also littered with a fair share of players who haven't panned out.
Another option the front office has is to package the pick in order to bring in an established NHL player, but is something that the General Manager seems hesitant to do.
"I’d prefer not to move that pick, you can’t say that you wouldn’t because there is players in the league that you put a package together and move it for," Rutherford said, "but at this point in time I’m not looking at doing that."
Rank: All Star 
Rank: Sports Legend - Posted by americaneelI believe that JR will make a good pick this year, and the fact that the Canes are willing to open their wallet and spend big bucks to get a top shelf free agent as well, will definitely help their cause.- Posted by jgunn
Who said they are willing to open their wallets?
I believe that JR will make a good pick this year, and the fact that the Canes are willing to open their wallet and spend big bucks to get a top shelf free agent as well, will definitely help their cause.- Posted by jgunn
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