Big night for Canes
Jun 22, 2012
The Hurricanes believe they can get a good player who can make an impact with the eighth pick in tonight’s draft. That doesn’t mean that the team is not willing to trade the pick, but the deal would have to make sense for the organization. If the Canes keep the pick, here are the names that have been linked to Carolina.
Radek Faksa: 6’3” 202 pound Center. Faksa played for Kitchener, a place the Canes have liked recently. Jeff Skinner and Ryan Murphy the last two first round picks of the team played for the Kitchener Rangers. Faksa is a strong skater out of the Czech Republic with tons of offensive potential.
Alex Galchenyuk: 6’2” 205 pound Center. He is highly thought with some people having him going as high as the second overall pick. He suffered a knee injury this past year that might drop his stock in the draft. When healthy, Galchenyuk can light the lamp as good as any prospect. He totaled 83 points during the 2010-11 season in the OHL with Sarnia.
Teuvo Teravainen: 5’11” 170 pound Winger. The Finnish player possesses playmaking ability and a high hockey IQ. He spent last season with Jokerit and is ranked as the second best European skater in the draft. His smallish stature might be a drawback, but the upside of his ability has him as a strong possibility with the pick for the Canes.
Look at all these rumors…trade rumors that is.
We know that Jordan Staal would like to play with big brother Eric. We know that Jordan has one year left on his contract. We just found out that the younger Staal has just turned down a ten year extension from the Penguins. That doesn’t mean that he is being shopped either depending on who you talk to. Pens GM Ray Shero has said they are not looking to move him, and according to sources Staal has not asked for a trade.
If he is on the block, it will probably take a package that involves the eighth pick, an NHL player and maybe a prospect. That is a steep price for a player that you still have to sign to a deal, and he will not be looking for a hometown discount. This isn’t to say that there is no chance of a deal, but the Pens don’t have to move a player with a year left on his contract.
Columbus Blue Jacket winger Rick Nash is the player the Canes would love to add to the line-up. Small problem, it will take at least two players on the NHL roster, the eighth overall pick and some prospects. Columbus has not come down off the high demands set at the trade deadline this past season. While no doubt Nash would be a tremendous addition to the Canes, the cost might be too steep for Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford. Oh and Nash has to accept a deal to play in Carolina, so it is not a done deal.
Anaheim is shopping Bobby Ryan, this perennial 30 goal scorer might not cost as much as Nash, but the price tag will still be high. However, a 6'2" scorer with Ryan's pedigree is hard to come by at worst the Canes can leverage interest in him to maybe force other teams to lower their demands.
Tonight’s draft has more interest than it has had in years. Based on the Canes draft position and the fact the front office has said numerous times they are looking to upgrade the top line talent, there is enough to the rumor mill that could make the Hurricanes time in Pittsburgh as important as any time they have had at the draft in the organization’s history.
Most Recent Comments
Posted Jun 27, 12:31 p.m.
Rank: Pro Posts: 132
Joined: May, 2009
Location: New Bern, NC
RE: Big night for Canes
I'd love to see the Canes add another Staal to their roster, but I don't think it will happen. I'm not sure which direction JR will go in, but I sure hope he does get some help for the Staal the Canes do already have.- Posted by jgunn
Looks like JR listened to you and made the trade.
Posted Jun 22, 6:57 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 20064
Joined: Dec, 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: Big night for Canes
I'd love to see the Canes add another Staal to their roster, but I don't think it will happen. I'm not sure which direction JR will go in, but I sure hope he does get some help for the Staal the Canes do already have.Posted Jun 22, 6:22 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 1011
Joined: Nov, 2009
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: Big night for Canes
Opting for a center in the draft would be a great course for the Canes !!Posted Jun 22, 5:12 p.m.
Rank: Veteran Posts: 379
Joined: Mar, 2007
Location: Cary, NC
