Eastside's Hockey Elite Collide

after no longer having a first rounder due to the trade for Mikko Koivu and not having a pick until #57, the Canes were in a tough spot heading into this years draft, but with the way things shook out they're more then happy with the results.

#57 - RW/LW Dmitri Mikhailov - Magnetogorsk, KHL, 5'11/174, Shoots: Left
Mikhailov is a solid role player, but he's most definitely a risk. There's a very real chance that he'll never hit his upside, but if he does the Canes have a solid top 6 winger for a long time. His stickhandling is his biggest asset, but he has a nice shot and is pretty decent as a playmaker as well. If Ruutu ends up leaving in free agency Mikhailov might be a good, although softer, replacement option for him. Defensively he'll need some work, but if he's paired up with a top two-way forward like Staal that won't be much of an issue.

#87 - C/LW Nick Cousins - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL, 5'10/166, Shoots: Left
Another forward selected, Cousins projects more to be of the 3rd liner variety then as a top 6er long term. His playmaking is pretty solid, he has a decent enough shot, and he's pretty decent on the draw. He's far more of a sure thing then Mikhailov but you also know that his upside is relatively limited. That said, with the changeover that's going to happen as Cullen and co head to free agency over the next few years, he's a solid option as the #3 long term, especially since he's the best prospect in the system on the draw.

#117 - G Matt Mahalak - Plymouth Whalers, OHL, 6'2/183, Catches: Left
The Canes aren't exactly hurting in net long term with Ward, Peters, Murphy, and Conz already in the system, but adding Mahalak gives them a better #2 option long term. Of course, the fact that it fits the Plymouth Pipeline mold for a pick makes it an even better fit, but that doesn't really matter when he's of a good enough skill level to be a solid keeper. Mahalak definitely is, and long term he's a good fit for the organization for the backup role.

#147 - LW/RW Konstantin Komarek - Lulea, SEL, 5'11/187, Shoots: Left
More of a two-way option then the others the Canes selected before now, Komarek is still a very solid two-way player. Long term he might not be the best fit on a checking line or on the PK, but he's a solid positional defensive player with devastating speed. His shot isn't too bad and his stickhandling is actually pretty good. Overall he's pretty similar to Chad LaRose and does a good job of staying out of the box.

#177 - D Kristan Skalin - Chelyabinsk, KHL, 5'11/180, Shoots: Left
More a fit for the AHL team then the Canes long term, Skalin is still a pretty decent position defenseman that relies on his speed rather then physicality to get the job done. It won't be long til he's in Charlotte anchoring the Checkers blueline.

#207 - D Harrison Ruopp - Prince Albert Raiders, WHL, 6'2/198, Shoots: Right
A guy drafted more as an AHL option then anything else, Ruopp is a solid defensive defenseman with a lot of upside. That said, his odds of hitting it are absolutely astronomical, which lead to his fall to the 7th round. He has good size, is a solid positional defenseman, can throw a few hits here and there, and stays out of the box. But he can't skate, has no offense, and it would take a miracle for him to develop fully. Could be a good AHL #1/2 even if he doesn't though.

first, we need to set the proper tone for the piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4EK4HSPkI&ob=av2n


after last season fell short, and numerous players had to be let go via free agency, the Hurricanes had to look in a new direction heading into the next season. That's not to say the core that got them there was insufficient, it just wasn't able to bring home the hardware despite all the talent there. GM Dave Greybill had this to say about the situation: "you know, it sucks to lose like that, when you know you're close and you're right up there with the two finalists. Even more painful is having to let guys like the Juice, LaRose, and Walker leave due to financial constraints. But we're going to have to go in a different direction here, and frankly I like where that's heading". An interesting, if not outright cryptic response.

when probed for further information a couple hours later Dave replied "have you seen my game recently man? I was less then a foot from a hole in one on #7. mother ****, that's the fourth or fifth time this year alone I've done that and I have yet to ever get one, what the **** is it going to take? I mean **** man I'm on pace to break 85 today, so how much do you want to bet I put up a snowman on 17 or 18? always ****ing happens man, always ". Clearly he was preoccupied with... other pressing matters.

he did manage to get in two signings, Todd Bertuzzi and Mike Brown so while we're left to speculate on what the hell he's talking about, here's the papers projections on the lines for the coming season:

Zach Boychuk - Eric Staal - Tuomo Ruutu
Dustin Penner - Mikko Koivu - Brandon Sutter
Ray Whitney - Matt Cullen - Teemu Pulkkinen
Tom Kostopoulous - Nicolas Blanchard - Mike Brown
Todd Bertuzzi

Joni Pitkanen - Casey Borer
Tim Gleason - Jose Cuervo (also a notable item of GM Greybill's diet)
Jamie McBain - His Holiness The Anton
Jay Harrison

Cam Ward
Justin "Pete Dawg" Peters

the AHL is a bit harder to predict, though there are some rumors out there that the Canes pair of dman draftees from the '10 draft might be a bit better then expected. We were going to ask Dave for his comments on that but given his thoughts on the lineup heading into the season we felt it best not to tempt fate.

One thing is for sure though, it's expected that Bohumil Jank, Kevin Gravel, and Brian Dumoulin will get top 6 playing time there, along with Brett Carson and Brett Bellemore. The 6th man there remains a mystery heading into next season, though it's believed that Rasmus Rissanen and Tommi Kivisto are drawing significant interest. Up front it's harder to say, mostly because most of the prospects there are junk. But there are some, such as Jerome Samson, Drayson Bowman, Zac Dalpe, Philippe Paradis, Dodge, Matt Pistilli, and Matt Kennedy that might not suck. Expected to join them: Artem Voronin, Andreas Dahlstrom, Arvid Stromberg, and Benjamin Conz from the '10 draft. Best guess:

Bowman - Voronin - Samson
Stromberg - Dahlstrom - Pistilli
Dalpe - Paradis - Dodge
Lindstrom - Chaput - Kennedy
Conboy, McCrae, Angelidis, Morneau, Goertzen

Carson - Bellemore
Jank - Gravel
Dumoulin - Rissanen
Kivisto, Lawson, Kunes, Krueger, Jordan

Murphy
Conz
Akerlund