2010 Hurricanes NHL Draft Preview

The Lethbridge Hurricanes may not have a ranked first round prospect this year, but they do have several intriguing players to watch going into day two of the 2010 NHL Draft.

In total, the Canes have eight players on their 09-10 roster who are in the draft year, and several undrafted players who could see their names called this weekend. Jacob Berglund, Graham Hood, Ryon Moser, Brody Sutter, Landon Oslanski, Derek Ryckman, Brandon Anderson and Ville Kolppanen make up the eight roster players in their draft year. While 91-born veterans Cam Braes, Austin Fyten and Brennan Yadlowski all had breakout seasons in 09-10 and are be eligible to be drafted a year after their draft year.

Sutter, was the Canes highest ranked 2010 draft prospect at 142^nd among North American Skaters in the CSS rankings. The 6’4 center from Calgary, AB will look to make a bigger impact in 2010 with his size and skill while trying to follow in his father’s footsteps – Brody’s father Duane was drafted 17th overall in 1979 by the New York Islanders and played 11 seasons in the NHL for the Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Berglund, a highly skilled Swedish forward with good size should greatly improve after showing signs of brilliance in his 18 year old rookie season in the WHL. Hood and Moser both showed they can compete at the WHL level with Hood posting solid numbers with 25 points and 13 goals. Hood arrived from Regina as part of the Carter Ashton trade and continues to improve as his 6’0 200 pound frame continues to develop to match his mean streak.

Defensemen Landon Oslanski and Derek Ryckman remain a pair of important pieces in the Hurricanes youth on the blue line. Oslanski joined the Hurricanes at the beginning of the season as a part of the Kyle Beach trade after originally being drafted by Spokane in the third round (56^th overall) of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. As a rookie this season he was able to play good minutes in several different situations. Ryckman, a Canes bantam draft pick was forced to miss half of the 09-10 season due to injury but his skill and his large frame make him another possible target on draft day.

Both, Yadlowski and Fyten are sure to be on the NHL radar with both attending their first NHL camps last summer after going undrafted in the 2009 draft. Yadlowski attended camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Fyten gained an invite to Detroit Red Wings camp. Yadlowski had a career season in 09-10, posting 34 points (3G, 31A) with 139 PIMs while taking on a leadership role in the Hurricanes dressing room. Fyten and Braes also had career seasons in 09-10 with Fyten posting 43 points (19G, 24A) and Braes doubling his output from 08-09 with an impressive 53 points and 25 goals, second on the team in both categories.

But, perhaps the most intriguing story could come from 90-born forward and Hurricanes Rookie of the Year last season – Mitch Maxwell. Maxwell began his first WHL season last year as a 19 year old and was able to post an impressive 44 points in 70 games with a team leading 27 goals. 90-born defenseman Mike Reddington was the Hurricanes Assistant Captain and an anchor on defense last season, and showed some of what it took to earn him his 2008 WHL Championship and Memorial Cup rings. If Maxwell, Reddington or any of the other draft re-entries are selected this weekend they would become the first Hurricanes player since Mitch Fadden (TB’07) to be drafted outside of his draft year.

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled to be held June 25-26 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

(From Ryan Ohashi, Lethbridge Hurricanes)