In order to be a contending team, one thing that you need is solid depth in your forward corps. This means having four lines that can be used in certain roles without much of a problem. Going into last season, the Hurricanes had this mindset but they didn’t execute it very well. They acquired Anthony Stewart and Tim Brent through free agency to play fourth line roles with the thought that these two would help give the Canes better depth throughout the lineup. The only problem with this strategy was that Stewart and Brent aren’t very good hockey players and the fourth line became a liability for the Canes yet again.

Brent and Stewart may have scored a combined 12 goals but neither could push the play forward to save their lives against very weak competition. You usually don’t expect much from fourth liners but the Hurricanes had to lean heavily on their top-nine because they could only rely on their fourth line in restricted situations. It got to the point where guys like Stewart, Joslin and Brent would play less than five minutes per game at even strength because the coaching staff didn’t trust them in important situations.

This is something that I would like to see changed come next season and the Hurricanes may not have to dip into the free agent pool to fix it. There are a lot of guys within the organization who would make solid depth players for this team and it wouldn’t surprise me if they end up being used in his fashion. Find out why after the jump.

Another way that the Jordan Staal trade is going to shake up the forward lines is that the team’s third line center spot is now open because of Brandon Sutter leaving and the Hurricanes have the option of using their third line in a different way than last year. A popular thought is that one of the younger players in the system like Jeremy Welsh could step into that role with relative ease. However, that may not be true if they continue to use the third line in a defensive role, which could happen with Andreas Nodl and Patrick Dwyer still under contract. If they choose to go that route, then it’s likely that Carolina will look to sign someone like Paul Gaustad, Jay McClement or Dominic Moore to center the third line. That being said, this may not be the best thing to do.

An ongoing problem for the last couple of seasons has been that there is no room on the roster for some of the younger players in Carolina’s system. Having spots available on the third line leaves the door open for someone like Welsh or Dalpe to step into a full-time role. Both of those players still need to earn their position in training camp but between the two of them, it isn’t too far-fetched to say that the Canes should have their third line center for next season. If neither of them can earn the spot then Carolina has a bigger problem on their hands.

Another player who should be in the mix is Drayson Bowman. He was on the team for a little under 30 games last year and did more than a fine job at driving the play and creating scoring chances. He managed to do this while being bounced around all over the top-nine and I think it’s fair to say that he’s earned a shot to make the team out of camp next year. The Hurricanes have a shortage of bottom-sixers who can control puck possession at even strength and Bowman fills that need. He may not be the scorer that some projected him to become but he can still be a useful player on this team and I think he has more than a fair shot of making the team out of camp. He’d be a great fit on the third line with Chad LaRose or possibly Jiri Tlusty.

What happens to Nodl and Dwyer, then? Well, neither are exactly offensive dynamos so they could fit nicely into a fourth line role but some might think that would be wasting their defensive strengths. That doesn’t have to be the case, though? If the Canes were to use quality players on the fourth line like Nodl and Dwyer and deploy them in a defensive role, then they wouldn’t have to restrict the usage of this line as much. Using both about 8-10 minutes a game in defensive situations in addition to the penalty kill wouldn’t be a bad strategy.

The question here is can Tim Brent play the role of a defensive center without much problem? He was able to do this in Toronto but his possession numbers took a tumble last season so I’m a bit skeptical about it. After scoring 12 goals last season, I have little doubts that Brent will still be on the team but I would be all for signing a cheap defensive center as insurance if he struggles. Someone along the lines of Jeff Halpern or Philippe Dupuis would fit this role. They aren’t defensive studs by any means but they can get the job done as a fourth line center and may accept a two-way deal if needed.

Having a defensive fourth line can work out well for the current roster because it along with Jordan Staal’s line could open up the first and third lines to easier minutes and more opportunities for them. With the Canes not having many wingers in the top-six who can play tough minutes, using the first line in more offensive situations could be the way to go. They might be misusing Eric Staal a little but the team needs more scoring now and it isn’t a guarantee that they can sign another winger, so protecting one of the top two lines might be the next best thing.

The point here is that the Hurricanes need forward depth but they don’t need to acquire any third or fourth liners through free agency because they have plenty of those guys within the organization. It’s all a matter of using them correctly.

One of the Carolina Hurricanes' unrestricted free agents who hasn't been talked about much is goaltender Justin Peters. You may remember him as the guy who was Cam Ward's back-up in 2010-11 and was a complete sieve whenever he was forced into action, which was only in 12 games. However, you may also remember him from last season when he posted a .931 save percentage in the seven games he played and looked much more poised in net than he ever had before. He performed admirably while both Cam Ward and Brian Boucher were injured, so that is fresh in the back of fan's minds but it's important to remember that was only seven games.

Lots of crazy things can happen in small sample sizes, so Peters' performance last season likely isn't his true talent level and neither is the awful .875 performance he put up in 2010-11. It's likely somewhere closer to the .906 save percentage he has 176 games in the AHL and that is pretty reasonable to expect from a back-up goaltender who has spent most of his career outside of the NHL. He is a player who can be replaced easily but there is plenty of motivation to bring him back for next season.

Earlier today, it was announced that Brian Boucher will miss 4-6 months with a shoulder injury, which would leave John Muse, Carolina's only other goalie under contract, as the back-up for the NHL club. Muse was great for the Florida Everblades in the ECHL but he has played only 16 total games at the professional level so the Hurricanes may want someone with more experience to back-up Ward. With Mike Murphy going to the KHL next season, the team was likely going to sign another goalie for Charlotte anyway, and keeping Peters around sounds like the easiest option.

Re-signing Peters might be the popular thing to do because of how well he played in Carolina last year but playing well in seven games is not a good representation of a goalie's talent. When you look at who is available, there are actually more than a few goalies who would make a decent replacement for him. We will take a look at those goalies after the jump.

Carolina added yet another college bound player into their system by selecting forward Brendan Collier with their seventh round pick in this year's draft. Collier just finished up a very successful senior year at Malden Catholic high school with a ridiculous 27 goals and 64 points in 22 games. He is committed to Boston University and will play there next year looking to build off his success in high school. He is noted to be an offensive powerhouse with a lot of speed and a knack for goal-scoring. He was nicknamed "Mr. Hockey " by ESPN Boston's hockey blog and has done nothing but impress the scouts in the area.

There is no doubt that Collier's numbers are impressive but that was in high school against kids his age. It's uncertain how he will fare in college against tougher opponents and older players. You have to like what you see with Collier, though. He's a very impressive athlete and can could have been a higher draft pick if he entered a year later and had a good freshman year. The one major red flag I see with him is that he's only 5'9" and 168 lbs. which is smaller than some of the other 18 year olds in this draft but he can always get bigger. Still, you have to wonder how he'll fare next year against bigger opponents if he stays the same size.

Either way, Collier seems to have the makings of a good prospect and he's won over a a lot of New England hockey bloggers. See for yourself.

ESPN Boston

143. Brendan Collier, Malden Catholic, LW
Scout’s take: “We hear this about him, he’s just a pure hockey player. Goal line to goal line, he works so hard, got a good compete level. I think he’s going to be a great college player. He’s got some potential because he just works so hard.”

Chiarelli’s take: “A couple of interesting one’s, the Collier kid, [he is] kind of under the radar a little bit, but a real gritty kid.”

The Draft Site

Named by ESPN Boston as Mr. Hockey, he was a team leader, who has keen offensive skills and is committed to all three zones. He scored 27 goals, 64 points in 22 games on his way to overtime Super Eight championship winning goal. He has committed to Boston University.

It's hard to find any negative things to say about Collier because his current body of work is very impressive. At the same time you need to keep your expectations in line because he's only played at the high school level. Seeing what he can do at Boston University in the Hockey East will give us a better idea of where he stands. That's generally how things work with all prospects who are about to start their first year at college, though. For a seventh round pick, the Hurricanes aren't risking much so there's nothing wrong with this selection. I'm interested to see how his freshman year goes.

The Hurricanes already drafted one goalie in the third round by selecting Daniel Altshuller and they decided to add another goalie in their system by drafting Collin Olson with the 129th overall pick. Olson has spent the last two seasons on the US National Development Team and will play at Ohio State University next season. He's a big guy at 6'3" who is praised for his solid positioning and quick reflexes.

Olson's stats over the last two seasons aren't very impressive as he had a .898 save percentage in 16 games last season and a 2.55 GAA. Young goaltenders (and all goalies in general) are usually a question mark so I wouldn't put much value into his junior numbers at this moment. His performance at Ohio State may paint a more accurate picture of what we can expect from him in the future, though but goalies are usually a mixed bag. The Hurricanes are likely going to lose two of their netminders in their system to free agency and graduation so they needed to replace them and they accomplished that with this draft. Now we just need to wait and see how good Altshuller and Olson will be in the coming years.

I can't say anything about that right now, but here are some thoughts from some more well-educated people who can give us a glimpse into Olson's future.

Minnesota Hockey Prospects

Olson developed nicely after a rough start for the USDP U-17 squad last season. Olson is a big goaltender, which is a good, as the new trend in scouting goalies is that bigger is better. Olson uses his big frame to his advantage as he does a good job keeping square to the shooter and cutting off any angle his opponent might have. Does a good job of closing any gaps down low by using his extremely quick reflexes.

Despite playing sparingly at Apple Valley High School in 2009-10, Olson showed the composure of a seasoned veteran while playing for the USDP. Olson’s draft stock has risen drastically thanks to playing sensational in international play.

The Draft Site

Big goaler who is far from the finished product but has all the tools to continue his development to the higher levels. Plays an excellent positional game and is a cool player when things heat up down low. Functionally strong and holds his position in the paint. Must get quicker.

College Hockey Prospective

Olson has played a solid NCAA type schedule with the NTDP and then carried his performance level over to excel in international play.  His drop from ninth to 21st in the CSB North American goaltender rankings shouldn’t deter his selection in the June draft.  Mark Osiecki and the Buckeyes got a good one to add to their already-young, talented squad.

Olson just turned 18 only two months ago and is still a project in the works. He will need a lot of work and experience before we know what we have in him and that could take years. He certainly has potential because goalies of his size can be tough to beat and it also helps that he's sound positionally. It's uncertain that he will be starting at Ohio State next year but if he plays well, then the Hurricanes could see the organizational depth at goaltender improve considerable amounts from where it is now. That's a big if, though because you never know what you have with goalies but it's never a bad thing to add one who will soon have college experience. We'll just have to wait and see how Olson performs.

The Hurricanes added yet another player from the WCHA to their prospect system this draft by selecting Brendan Woods from the University of Wisconsin with their fifth round pick. Woods turned 20 years old a couple weeks ago and just finished up his freshman year in college where he scored 5 goals and 10 points in 34 games. He has been draft eligible for the last three years but has been recovering from a broken leg, which has hurt his stock big time. An injury like that can end a player's career but it's good to see that Woods was able to recover and get back to playing. He is the son of Bob Woods, a former assistant of the Washington Capitals.

There isn't much out there on Woods, but it has been said that he has regained his skating abilities despite suffering a serious leg injury and he also possesses a decent shot. He is a little old for a player of his level so more should e expected out of him than someone who is 17 or 18 years of age, which isn't terribly good news when you look at his stat line However, it isn't fair to go by that alone because of Woods' injury and it's obviously going to take longer than normal for him to get back into playing shape.

Here's what some experts had to say about him.

Hockey's Future

Woods has good size and skates well for his size.  He has the potential to be a decent power forward, but the offensive part of his game hasn't come around as yet.

The Draft Site

3rd year eligible player, son of Bob Woods former Hershey Bears head coach, went undrafted due to a broken left femur. His rehab was lengthy. Attended Capitals pre-season camp, where his father serves as an assistant coach. He continues to improve foot speed and leg strength. He shoots the puck well, and finds the open spaces to set up. Works the wall and dirty areas. Once moving, he is a load. Short space quickness is the area in need of improvement.

University of Wisconsin's site

Skated the 2010-11 season for Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL under former Badger assistant coach Kevin Patrick ... scored 14 goals and 26 points in 57 games for Muskegon ... posted six goals and 10 points in 34 games for the Chicago Steel of the USHL in 2009-10 ... skated for Williston Prep before playing in the USHL ... has played baseball, football and soccer in the past

I don't know if it's fair to label him an "over-ager" because the injury definitely set him back a little, but this is a bit of a risky pick by the Hurricanes. In the 5th round, draft position doesn't matter that much and it's all about finding players who you think can turn into something useful. Woods could turn into a good player somewhere down the line but I will hold off on saying anything until another year. The scouting reports suggests that he is more of a grinder and doesn't have a lot of offensive upside, which sounds about right for someone taken in the later rounds. I may have gone with a safer selection but wont be losing much sleep over a late round pick.

The Hurricanes decided to double dip on defensemen with theird second and third picks in the fourth round of this year's draft by selecting Jaccob Slavim from the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Slavin led all Steel defensemen in points last season with 30 in 60 games and he ranked third on the team in +/- with a +6 rating. He is committed to Colorado College and will be playing there next season.

Slavin is described as a two-way defenseman with solid puck-moving skills and good vision. He turned 18 last month and possesses a very strong frame at 6'2" and 170 lbs. He might need to gain a few pounds before he can be more effective physically but the scouts have said that his defensive game is very polished and well-rounded. It's always tough to project defensemen like this because they can either go one way or another. Sometimes their point totals dry up as they get into tougher leagues and other times they will turn into more one-dimensional players. We will learn more about Slavin and where he stands by this time next year after he has a year of college hockey under his belt.

Those who have followed him in the USHL have some promising things to say about him.

Bill Placzek at The Draft Site

A developmental two way defender who is gaining confidence and strength and a bit of physicality. Calm and smart with the puck, and is a good outlet passer. Carries the puck and has stick-handling abilities and soft hands. Good on the point shot. His skating must improve as does his gap control.

Reel Hockey Scouting

Shoots left. Has been doing nothing but improving since last year and may very well prove to become the dark-horse of this year’s NHL Draft. Holds intellect and savvy with the puck and continues to be one of finest defenseman in the USHL. Has become a calm and collected presence across the sheet. Keeps his head-up, reads the play and knows his options before it is time to act. Not mistake free but can always be relied upon to give consistent, honest and simple effort.

Has a smooth and powerful stride. Quick first set of steps and can explode to the puck. Poor backwards skating ability and lacks lateral mobility, which makes it hard to close his gaps properly.

Smart and has tailored his game to make up for his skating deficiency. Pro-active and positions himself well from the start and waits for the puck carrier to make the first move. Is uncanny with getting his stick on the puck to fend off the rush and keep the play to the outside. Does overextend his reach at times though which throws him off balance and causes him to become caught standing still, and not being able to use his size or strength in a second effort. Is not prone to hearing footsteps and remains composed with the puck when under pressure. Huge on-ice awareness and does a good job jamming up lanes and leaving his net-minder a clear view of the puck. Supports his defensive partner very well.

Outstanding vision with the puck and has a nifty pair of mitts. Poised and waits for passing lanes to emerge. Effective at getting crisp, low passes towards the net from atop the blue line but needs to open it up a bit and shoot the puck more. Is the trusted eye on the power play to lead the breakout from the zone. Owns a soft touch with the puck and can distribute it like a pro.

Two-way defenseman that is committed to Colorado College. Is just now coming into his own with an upgradeable frame, high learning curve and severe vision with the puck, all of which will make him extremely intriguing come draft day.

Slavin sounds like most prospects of his age; very skilled in a lot of areas but he has a few things he needs to work on and it looks like skating is one of his key flaws. That could keep him from becoming a good offensive defenseman at the NHL level but he was only 17 this year so it's not like he can't get better. Like I said earlier, we will have a better idea of Slavin as a player in another year or so when he develops. As of right now he doesn't look like anything spectacular but he could be a fine two-way defenseman if he develops well enough. Much has been said about his work ethic so that could be a sign of good things in the future, even if he doesn't project to be more than an AHL-er.

After spending their previous picks on three forwards and a goaltender, the Hurricanes finally took a defenseman with the 115th overall selection by drafting Trevor Carrick of the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors. This was their second of three picks in the fourth round of this year's draft.

Carrick is billed as a defensive defenseman with decent offensive potential. Most scouting reports I have read on Carrick are very mixed. There are some guys who do not see him as anything special but others have praised his strong defensive game and how well he plays in his own zone. The general consensus on Carrick is that he is a very good defenseman and his skill-sets can translate well to the NHL but he isn't going to be the next Chris Pronger. Those who have seen Carrick play have mostly good things to say about him.

Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus

95. Trevor Carrick, Defense, Mississauga-OHL

Carrick did not have the kind of great season points-wise you would like to see, but scouts have consistently sung praises for him. He's an above-average skater who moves with ease in all four directions and is able to generate a good first step off his backward movements. He has the ability to join the rush very effectively but won't always be that aggressive in joining the offense. Carrick has an average-sized frame but is notably physical. While he's not a mean punisher or anything, he consistently finishes his checks hard, wins the majority of battles he is involved in, and protects the front of his own crease pretty well. Carrick has puck-moving skills beyond simple outlet passes, as he can move it up moderate distances and will show power play ability despite his poor counting numbers. He doesn't have much puck skills, though, and when he's handling it outside of straight line movements, he can look quite rigid. Carrick does fine in his own end and that's more where he'll be leaned on at the pro level considering his size and ability to close gaps efficiently.

The Prospect Blog

Carrick seems to be the type of player who was born to play hockey. The third of fourth brothers, Carrick has always been a layer who impressed. Dating back to his Markham Major’s days, Carrick has always displayed a nice projectable upside. He has always looked to be a player who could have NHL level potential, but this year he has really established himself as a potential high draft pick for June. After joining the Majors this year after a year with the Stouffville Spirit of the OJHL, he was a pretty raw prospect who really had some good upside, but I was not sure about where he would fall in the NHL Draft. Once he got use to the pace of play and started to become comfortable with his surroundings and adjusted to the style of play, he started to really show growth. He projects out as a smart defensive first defenceman with some interesting offensive upside. I’m not sure how much offense he will produce at the next level, however he does show potential with the offensive size of his game.

Strengths

Carrick has many attributes that make him a player to watch for the NHL Draft. First and foremost is his intelligence. He is extremely strong positionally and is always in the right place. He is quite strong at playing his gaps tight in his own zone, and rarely will give opposition forwards much room in his own zone. He has an active stick in passing lanes and is always knocking down pucks. He is quite effective at engaging physically down low and along the boards, and good at pinning opposition forwards out of the play. He rarely if ever will simply stick check an opposition forward and always engages physically in his own zone. He is an excellent skater who has above average footwork and acceleration. His footwork while transitioning from offensive to defensive skating and rarely will be beat wide. He makes good overall decisions with the puck on his stick, more so within 5-10 feet of him, not necessarily when he stretches the ice.

Weakness

The one aspect of his game that Carrick needs to continue to develop is his offensive abilities. He makes smart, intelligent plays with the puck, but struggles with his stretch passes. When he has no options within a close proximity, he can force the puck into pockets of the ice that are over populated. He makes poor reads down the ice, and has makes poor, low percentage passes that can end up as icing, or as a turnover. He has shown some good growth offensively as the season moved forward, but some of the decisions that he makes need to be improved. I do wonder much better he will get offensively, but it shouldn’t limit his long term upside as a smart defense first defenceman.

Projection

Carrick is projected to be a top 4 defense first defenceman. He will be able to play a strong defensive role, and add some occasional secondary scoring from the back end. He still has offensive growth, just not sure how much offensive impact he will have at the NHL level.

Draft Ranking:

Carrick is projected to be a second round draft selection, and should be a 31st – 40th overall selection for the NHL Draft.

Last Word on Sports

Carrick is primarily a defensive defenceman.  He shows great intelligence and excellent positioning on the ice.  He is rarely caught out of position, and plays an effective positional game.  He gives his opponents very little space on the ice and pressures the puck carrier well.  He cuts down passing and shooting lanes with smart positioning, and an active stick.  He is also an effective shot blocker.  Carrick is not a huge hitter, however he does well in board battles and in fighting for position.  Carrick has also been known to drop the gloves on occasion to stick up for teammates, but he’s not someone who will go out looking for a fight either, he just doesn’t back down when it comes to him.

Offensively, Carrick is the steady stay at home type.  He makes good, short crisp passes on breakouts, but can struggle with his accuracy on long stretch pass.  He’s not likely to rush the puck up the ice as his primary concern is his own end of the rink.  In the offensive zone, he pinches rarely (and only when absolutely necessary), however he does possess a decent shot, and keeps it low and accurate from the point.

Carrick is a decent skater but he isn’t going to blow you away either.  He has slightly above average top end speed, but his acceleration could use some work.  His agility and pivots are good but not great.  His lateral mobility, balance, and agility are all good enough that when combined with his smart positioning and high hockey IQ, he is rarely beaten off the rush, and is able to effectively play his position.

We believe Carrick has the ability to become a good defensive defenceman at the next level and would compare his potential to become a player similar to Josh Gorges of the Montreal Canadiens.

… and that is the Last Word.

Like I said, just about everyone has good things to say about Carrick but nothing that blows you away, which is to be expected from a mid-round pick. Although, the folks at The Prospect Blog seem to be a bit higher on him than others (projected him to go in the second round) so maybe they see something in him that others don't. Either way, I think the Hurricanes did well with this pick. Carrick sounds like a very safe selection and has a good amount of potential. He still hasn't turned 18 yet so you know that there's time for him to improve his all-around game and possibly get bigger. As of right now, Carrick sounds like a fundamentally sound stay-at-home defenseman and most NHL clubs have room for a player like that in their system, so I like this pick for Carolina. In the fourth round, the best you can do is draft guys who you think might have a future in the NHL and Carrick is a very safe pick for that.

The Jordan Staal trade might be yesterday's news by now, but there is still a lot to talk about concerning the aftermath of the deal. I mentioned this in my initial post on the trade, but adding Jordan Staal and subtracting Brandon Sutter not only strengthens the forward corps, it also changes the complete makeup of the team. The Hurricanes now have two centers who they can use in a power vs. power type role, but they lost their key matchup guy in Sutter and are going to need to find a new third line center. While there are a few players like Sutter available in free agency (Paul Gaustad, Jay McClement, etc.) who the Canes can sign, having Jordan Staal on the team allows Kirk Muller to do a lot of different things with his forwards than he could last season. 

For the last two or three years, the third line has always been Carolina's matchup line and Sutter's defensive strengths were a large reason for that. Now that Sutter is gone, does this mean the Canes need to find another player like him so they can continue to use their forwards that way? Not necessarily. Jordan Staal has played the same role as Sutter in the Pens system, albeit not as extreme, so the Hurricanes can play somewhat of a different system next year. Both Eric and Jordan both being capable of handling tough minutes means that they don't have to completely bury their third line like they did last season and possibly use them in more offensive situations instead of making them strictly a checking unit. This is assuming that they want to take the power vs. power approach with their top-six, which is very possible.

Relieving the third line of some defensive responsibility could definitely help the Hurricanes in terms of scoring depth but it also opens up the door for some younger prospects like Jeremy Welsh and Zac Dalpe. One of the reasons Dalpe struggled to fit in the lineup was that he couldn't score enough to be in a top-six role and he isn't good enough defensively to play on Sutter's line. Using the third line in a more protected role could give him more of a permanent position on the team. Same goes for Jeremy Welsh, who could be able to take over Sutter's spot but a lot about him is unknown at this point.

After the jump, we will discuss more possibilities for the third line and how Carolina might roll their forwards with both Staals in the mix next season.

The later rounds of the draft are always tough to get worked up about because the odds of a player from rounds 4-8 turning into a quality NHL player are somewhat low. That being said, some GMs have an eye for finding talent in the later rounds while and draft prospects who turn into quality role players at the NHL level. Sometimes it depends on the GM, the scouting staff and other times it is just plain old luck. Almost every draft has a few late round picks who go on to do great things in the pros but it usually takes years before we find out if they are any good and a lot of times, these players don't even stay with the team that originally drafted them. It's just really tough to tell how any of these players will turn out right now.

The Hurricanes had six picks in the last four rounds of the draft this year, including three in the fourth round alone, so there is a good chance that they could end up with one of these steals but it still feels like a major crap shoot. The Canes already reached on one player, so the smart thing to do would be to take the safer round in the last four rounds but it ultimately won't have too much of an impact. If anyone one of the players they took in the last four rounds turns into a useful NHL-er, then that would be a victory in my eyes.

They started off the fourth round with somewhat of a safe pick by selecting forward Erik Karlsson with the 99th overall selection. Karlsson might share the same name with the Ottawa Senators defenseman who just won the Norris, but he is very, very different from him. He is pegged as a speedy two-way forward with decent puck-handling skills. He is also said to be a terrific skater and was actually ranked high on some blogger's lists for that reason. One person who was high on him was Corey Pronman from Hockey Prospectus, who had him ranked at #54 in his Top 100 Prospects Feature. Here's what he had to say about Karlsson.

Corey Proman from Hockey Prospectus

"This skilled forward bears a strikingly familiar name, but I can't place my finger on where I've heard it before. Oh well, if it was a hockey player, he probably wasn't anyone good. Karlsson is a solid skater, although arguably a grade above. He's a good all-around mover with impressive edge control, a fluid stride, easy power off his push offs, and he gets up to speed quickly. Karlsson is a pretty skilled player who creates a lot with the puck, regularly displaying above-average hands or better anytime the puck gets on his stick. His open ice moves seem to come effortlessly to him as while he has some flash to his game, his puck-handling also gives off the impression that he is in control. Karlsson knows where he needs to go in the offensive zone, sees the ice well, and doesn't seem to have a true hole in his offensive game. He also positions himself fine in his own end. He's a small guy, who needs a boat load of strength and probably will be replacement level at best physically at his peak even though he does attempt to at least engage himself in battles."

International Scouting Services was less optimistic but praised his skating ability.

ISS

A very energetic and explosive two-way player, "the other Erik Karlsson" can really push opponents into making mistakes. He is a great skater with good hands, strong vision and reaction skills and some determination regardless of the role he is playing. He plays a fearless style of physical game despite his smaller frame and hits to win the puck. Karlsson has a very good head for the game and has proven a versatile and dynamic prospect.

Karlsson has yet to play professional at any level and spent last season with Frolunda's junior team in Sweden, scoring 11 goals and 33 points in 57 games. This shows that while he has a lot of skill, it has yet to translate into results on-ice. His size probably prevents him from being as effective as he could be, so that might be why he hasn't scored at too high of a level. Pronman also says that he probably will only be replacement level at best, which doesn't make me too confident about how his future but he appears to have all the right tools to make it in the show. His weight and strength limitations must be more of a detriment to his game than they are to other players. Regardless, I think this is a good pick because Karlsson has time to get stronger and improve his physical game. He's got good potential and is definitely worth a 4th round pick for Carolina.

Following up on the Brock McGinn pick, the Hurricanes decided to think a little more outside the box with their 3rd round selection as they drafted goalie Daniel Altshuller from the Oshawa Generals with the 69th overall pick. I'm generally against drafting goalies early because of how volatile the position is and how difficult they are to project but the Hurricanes needed one. Mike Murphy is heading to the KHL next year, Frederik Anderssen left the organization, Justin Peters is a UFA and almost too old to be considered a prospect and John Muse was in the ECHL for most of last season. Goalies in this organization don't have much leverage with Cam Ward being under contract for so long, but adding another one right now is not a bad decision.

So, what is the outlook for Altshuller? Well, his stats in junior don't look particular impressive (11-16-3, .900 Sv%, 3.55 GAA) but I usually don't judge junior hockey goalies by their basic stats. The OHL is a very high-scoring league and a lot of younger goalies tend to have mediocre save percentages and goals against averages. Case and point, Altshuller had the highest GAA among rookie goaltenders in the OHL last season. He could build off this performance next year and turn into something special or he could not improve at all, because you never really know what you're going to get with young goalie prospects. Either way, he's a few years away from the pros since he hasn't even turned 18 yet and technically wasn't Oshawa's starter next year. We'll have a better idea of what the Hurricanes have with him in a couple years but for now, let's take a look at some opinions from those who actually got to see him play.

Margann Laurissa from My NHL Draft

Daniel Altshuller joined the Oshawa Generals after a trade with the Belleville Bulls in 2011 and he showed several times throughout the year that he is capable of being a #1 goaltender. He had proved himself in the Central Tier 1 Hockey League, at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The Generals split the goaltending duties in 2011-12 between him and veteran incumbent starter Kevin Bailie but, whenever Altshuller started, he was solid and played extremely well. Altshuller's technique was different of that of Bailie since the Nepean native was more active in the crease, especially in playing the puck. Altshuller won his first OHL start and he had a five-game winning streak during the middle of the season. When Bailie had an injury in February, Altshuller secured the #1 job for the month. He had a record of 11-16-3 in 20 games, registering a decision in every game he started. His 3.55 goals-against average won him the F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy for the OHL's best rookie GAA; he also had a rather solid .900% save percentage.

Bill Placzek from Draft Site

Developing prospect who is a rookie in the OHL, after leading team Ontario to victory in last year's U-17 challenge and Team Canada to gold in the summer's Ivan Hlinka tourney. He displays excellent lateral quickness and decision-making skills that he has coupled with his strong athleticism.

It sounds like Altshuller is a very good goalie by the eye-test and should be the starter in Oshawa next month. He's got a pretty impressive frame at 6'3" so he must take up a lot of the net and the scouting reports say that he likes to challenge shooters a lot. Another things scouting reports say is that he likes to play the puck a lot but there is no mention about how good he is at playing the puck. I haven't got a chance to see him play so I'm a little iffy to make player comparisons, but the scouting reports make it sounds like he is a Mike Smith type of goaltender. Very active in the crease, plays the puck often and is somewhat of a high-risk goaltender. Goalies who play this style are either lights out or terrible, so hopefully for the Hurricanes he is more of the former.

The Prospect Blog also ranked him as the third best goaltending prospect from the OHL in this draft. Granted, that was out of only four players but he does have a promising outlook going by scouting reports. I'm not sure if I would have spent a third round pick on him but I'm fine with the Hurricanes taking a goalie in this draft since they need another one in their system. How Altshuller turns out is anyone's guess, though.