After exercising their draft rights for all of the players drafted in the 2015 NHL draft class (not counting NCAA players Luke Stevens and David Cotton whose rights are still held by the Hurricanes), the Hurricanes did not sign two players from the 2016 draft class. The deadline to sign both Hudson Elynuik and Noah Carroll came and went on Friday making both subject to reentering the draft.
Today’s Daily Cup of Joe takes a look at both former Hurricanes’ prospects.
Hudson Elynuik
I had figured Hudson Elynuik to be signed simply because the potential of his big frame, potential and NHL blood lines to maintain his rights for three more years to see if he could grow into his potential.
Analysis of Elynuik is wide-ranging. Again, his 6 foot 5 inch frame combined with consecutive seasons north of a point per game seem to warrant at least a longer audition, so it will be interesting to see if the the 2018 NHL Draft yields clues as to whether he just did not make the cut or if perhaps he opted his his chance to get a change of scenery in terms of NHL rights.
Elynuik’s production makes the cut but has arguably been inflated from playing on a team with two other higher-end NHL prospects in Kailer Yamamoto (#22 overall in 2017) and Jarret Anderson-Dolan (#41 overall in 2017) who drove the offense in Spokane.
My assessment of Elynuik in prospect camp even returning for the second time was that he was still very raw. As such, he projected as a longer-term development project, and with a forward group that has been growing in size, Elynuik was more than a mid-tier prospect in a deep Canes pool. When one nets it out, Elynuik rates well for projectable size and WHL production but never really looked the part of a high-end prospect in game action.
As noted above, I will be curious to see if/where he is redrafted for the 2018 NHL draft and then read the tea leaves on whether the Hurricanes just passed or if Elynuik used his option to go elsewhere.
Noah Carroll
Noah Carroll was sort of the opposite of Hudson Elynuik in my assessments. Carroll never put up big numbers in Canadian juniors nor did he ever really find the higher gear necessary for a sixth-rounder to turn heads and win an entry-level contract. Carroll had a productive year in 2017-18 on a Sault Ste. Marie team that was dominant. As such, it is difficult to ferret out how much he had improved and made strides development-wise versus to what degree he just benefited from being on a phenomenal team. The fact that he was not signed to an entry-level contract despite the Hurricanes lack of prospect depth on defense would seemingly suggest that the team was not overly high on his development thus far.
From limited scouting personally at prospect camp and in the Traverse City tourney, I always rated Carroll higher than his sixth-round draft pedigree. He is mobile/skates fairly well and has the skill set of a puck mover which is a plus, but check ins with people who watched him over the course of full OHL seasons (compared to 5-6 games in the summer) never seemed to rate as high as I would hope.
Unlike Elynuik, Carroll seems less likely to earn an entry-level contract from here.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Were you surprised to see either prospect go unsigned?
2) Where (if at all) do you think Hudson Elynuik will go in the 2018 NHL Draft as other teams way his fairly high-end potential against his only modest development thus far?
Go Canes!
I am concerned about whether Elynuik decided to reject our offer to sign him or we opted to let him go. Quite frankly, our letting him go doesn’t make a lot of sense, based upon the very little information I have so far. But his rejecting us makes a lot of sense. Could this be a harbinger of future events? I hope not.
I haven’t seen either play other than in training camp. Thus I really have to rely on the opinions of those who have seen their play and the team scouts etc. I will say that in the NHL today their is less time permitted to allow players to grow their game as there is a need each year for some prospects to move up to the NHL teams if for no reason other than the salary cap. Also, the 50 contract limit on the number of players a team can have under contract acts to weed out those players who don’t develop as fast. I’m glad you brought up the subject as it will be another thing to look at during the draft to see what, if anything, happens to these players further. If they are again late round picks, then the team’s assessment in not signing them now would appear to me to be correct. Obviously, if they are not drafted, this would also be the case. If one of them is drafted in an early round, then it would be interesting to see their rational for doing so.
I can’t say whether this particular decission was good or bad, but I am a bit annoyed that all we’ve seen from the new owner/management is cost cutting, the Kruger trade seems to have been mostly otivated by 300K in savings, maybe the original intent was to hire a new gM for that money, not hiring external coaches or players, in short, not making a statement signing, plan or splash.
It’s still early days so I know my attitude is pretty unreasonable at this point, but I want to see the new owner make a real commitment to a winning product, something he has absolutely failed to do so far.
I read a week or two ago that Elyniuk was indicating he was going to re-enter the draft – so I don’t think it was the Canes making the decision. I never heard anything about Carroll.
Part of the consideration is whether we were showing enough interest in these players. Part of it is are the players viewing the Canes and saying, “no, I would rather not follow my dream after all”. đ
I have to agree with breezy – new ownership and new management haven’t really been making changes of note. Rather, I hear them now walking back previous talk about changes. No trades of note for a team that has said “we are not bringing back the same team”.
Time will tell.
Just remember that the free agent signing period does not open until July 1. GMs are not going to be looking to make significant trades until they figure out who is and is not willing to sign extensions and they typically wait for the SCF to finish up before making any significant moves. If nothing significant has happened by the end of the second day of the free agent signing period, then it is time really start questioning team management’s decision making.
Your point is well-taken and probably spot-on when it comes to the higher-end players being moved.
This Elynuik thing has me concerned. Is this why our management will be unable to make any significant trades? Players don’t want to come here in trades or as UFAs? Maybe draft picks will refuse to come?
We are being savaged by the Canadian press. The Dudley/Waddel/Brindamour management team along with Willy can undo the damage done to our image by enemies without and within. But such repairs take time. There is no shortcut.
I don’t understand why “fans” are joining the feeding frenzy. Right or wrong, good or bad, our management team is ours. It is ours for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Why don’t we support them?
Both players likely project to be fringe NHL talent which lends me to believe letting them go is not a big deal to the organization. Our drafting has been better the last few years with slots in the AHL/ECHL having more competition. Hard to say having not watched either player in action, but that’s my gut feeling on the matter.
As for lack of team moves this offseason, the true offseason doesn’t really begin until after the playoffs conclude and leading towards draft day. This is the timeframe GMs are setting the framework for bigger deals. Whether they happen on draft day or after July 1st (or not at all) is something nobody can answer. Much speculation, but not much to read into prior.
The Canes management needs to be held accountable for their actions and inactions.
A new owner bought the team and made bold statements about a new direction, a new core improving the team. The actions so far have not matched those statements.
The core of the “new” management team is at least in part responsible for the demise of the thrashers, a hockey franchise at least geographically most similar to the Canes. Half of that duo was part of the failed regime, The other half is the guy’s best friend who comes here because he wants to work with him (seriously, the Duddley interview on wral.com was embarrassing, no mention of coming here because he likes the team’s chances).
The new headcoach, though a great captain and hall of fame player, has no headcoaching experience. The team has yet to hire an assistant coach that can help him out with the strategic parts of the game, where his lack of experience is inevitably going to show.
RFAs and UFAs have not been resigned.
Kruger was traded away but with limited to no salary savings, for another prototypical bottomline forward.
The team is choosing not to resign their prospects, or the prospects are choosing not to resign with the team.
It is way too early to make any definitive judgment. I was half joking when I came across decidedly grumpy in the perception so far, but the next 2 to 3 weeks are key for this management to send positive signals, the draft is the place to discuss trades. I think a positive signal includes signing of another experienced NHL coach to help the team.
Management is responsible for making Carolina a desireable destination for the players that the team needs.
They can do so by charting a clear vision, identifying key pieces that are missing and acquiring those pieces. Maybe it takes overpaying a veteran or two for a year or two, but sometimes that’s what it takes. No Semin or Ward contracts, but lucritive short-term deals can help attract the talent we need in the short term to change the perceptionof the team and give the prospects another year or two gradually take on their roles as core of the future.
The sky is not falling yet folks, but I want to see more, it probably makes me a greedy bugger.
That being said, with all the sunshine this week I think I can enjoy the finals, the pool, family trips and chillax about the Canes future. đ I may even have a habanero burrito.
Something tells me that the new owner and management team can build a team overcoming all the obstacles, march that team through the regular season, then the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup and some of you guys will (quite wrongly) continue to blame them for the demise of the old Atlanta franchise, the Viet Nam War, etc. Every decision they make will be second guessed. Every victory will be just not good enough. Whew!
I hope that I am wrong about that.
But I must concede that when you pay the price of the tickets, purchase jerseys, sticks, and pucks, you earn the right to decide whether or not to love the team.
I am often guilty of relentless negativity against certain players and coaches. But I find that I enjoy the game more if I accentuate the positive things and downplay the negatives.
I agree. This isn’t the Thrashers despite the optics at the surface (the Atlanta situation was so different to ours it’s a waste of time to defend). For years many wanted PK to make some bold moves and now that we have a new owner some are worried. Things will be okay.
Same. Not a Waddell fan by any means, but that mess of an ownership group he was working with in Atlanta was infinitely worse than Karmanos ever was.
Just sayin’……
I hope these two prospects continue to follow their dreams and play in the NHL someday. It just wonât be with Carolina. It is not a âmushroom cloudâ moment.
The new management team seems to be going well from my perspective. They replaced an ultra conservative GM with someone who may actually try to make the team better by 2025.
They replaced a head coach who couldnât take some of the best players in the world to a medal in an international tournament with a tenacious leader who hates losing. Seems like change to me.
TD may not know hockey as well as life long hockey people. I would suggest he knows two things very well- people and money. This long suffering fan is willing to give him more than six months to continue the culture of change.
The offseason doesnât really start until the the Stanley Cup is lifted. Everyone hang in there.
If you take a look at the industry in which he worked and his personal history in that industry you may come to the conclusion, as I did, that when it comes to people and money he was very good at separating people from their money with predatory lending practices and usurious rates. He was certainly astute enough to sell his business (not once, but twice) near the peak. So I won’t applaud his business acumen or think he knows much about business or people.
tj. I empathize. It has been my great fortune to work with two amazing leaders when I lived in Raleigh. One started a church that has grown and become a force for change in the Triangle. He is inspirational and committed. The other leader was the director of a non-profit that served at-risk people throughout the Triangle. She had the amazing ability to raise money for the organization even though itâs âcustomersâ had to remain anonymous.
They both understand people and use money/resources creatively. Neither seem to have much in common with the Canesâ ownership.
I still love the Canes and have hope. I also fully understand that a hockey team is a business, which means it will be harsh sometimes. But I am with tj that we should save our praise for truly gifted peopleâthere are many in Raleigh and surrounding area.
I like the positive vibes, helps me enjoy that beer at the pool more leisurely waiting for good things to come.
I have followed these prospects as closely as the thousand mile-separation, hockeyDB and the subjectivity of Canadian media will allow.
I followed Foegele as he torched the OHL playoffs two years ago, and Geekie this year. At NO point, has Elyniuk displayed anything more than a complimentary skillset. He played his best when he was given the best linemates. He was the forgotten prospect. With Geekie coming in, and several college players within 1-2 years of their final AHL decisions, Elyniuk simply wasn’t essential. Especially at center, he’s a less-talented Nicolas Roy. Sure it’s nice to have a whole bunch of prospects and he might turn into something, but he wasn’t essential for the Canes
I was a little more surprised about Carroll. I don’t think anybody will argue that his offensive game is anything other than non-existent, but his defensive improvements were such that I thought he could at least compete for a solid AHL/ECHL role. Still in this instance, and given the Canes recent prospect track record, I also would not let this cloud my happiness with the overall performance in signing prospects.
We can make sweeping judgements about the legitimate red flags surrounding the Canes organization, sure. In this particular situation, however, I did not see anything through two years of relatively consistent following that makes me believe that the front office made a mistake here. I like quantity of prospects as much as anybody, but I’m going to assume our front office has better information than I do, on these two.
Fogger. Completely agree with your scoutingâand agree it is hard given the limited information.
Elynuik seemed to have only one outstanding qualityâscoring short-handed. That implies a fourth line role. So taking advice from powerless,I am going to put a positive spin on this. Maybe management is ready to move beyond the first through fourth line concept. Now that would be leadership and new thinking.
I too am mildly surprised that Carroll wasnât given a shot. On paper (I have never seen him play) he looked to have potential to keep improving and the organization is, as Matt keeps mentioning, thin on D-men.