Carolina gets this first rounder from the Los Angeles Kings. They received this pick last year in the trade that sent Andrej Sekera to the Kings. The Hurricanes are aggressively going to be looking to grab some skilled forwards. They’ll even be willing to take a chance on a skilled forward in Tyler Benson who will most likely drop because of health concerns.
Benson might have health concerns, but he has 28 points (nine goals and 19 points) in 30 games for a last place team that has struggled to score, especially without Benson. Tyler Benson has great intangibles, as his teammates elected him as the team captain for the 2015-2016 season. He’s a great playmaker and he has shown flashes of being an above average goal scorer. Should he stay healthy, he has a solid chance of being a good NHL player. He has a great compete level and hounds the pucks in the defensive zone. That’s an attractive quality to have in the NHL.
Tyler is a work in progress right now. His upside, though, is undeniable. Carolina hasn’t been afraid in the past to draft based on upside. Benson’s intangibles and skill make him a fringe first rounder. The Hurricanes need some young leaders and Benson might be the perfect guy for them.
Next: #30: Washington Capitals