Canes have an open mind about 5th pick in NHL draft

The Carolina Hurricanes have the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft and general manger Ron Francis said Thursday nothing has changed the Canes’ position in the opening round.

“We’re comfortable we can get a very good player at five,” Francis said.

That’s not to say the Hurricanes are fully locked in on making that fifth pick Friday, when the first round is held at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. Francis said again Thursday that if the Canes’ targeted player is off the board the Canes could consider a draft-floor trade.

“Until the selection is actually made, you never know,” he said. “We’re looking at a lot of scenarios.”

Those scenarios also could include a trade that involves an established player. There has been speculation in recent weeks that forward Jeff Skinner could be available, and there has been NHL chatter about the Canes looking to move forward Alexander Semin.

Francis wouldn’t address that speculation, saying, “There’s a lot of weird stuff out there.” But he also added, “We’ve been fielding a lot of calls and making a lot of calls. There is a chance (a trade) could happen, during the draft or after the draft. We’re open to making any deal that will make us better, but it’s hard to say if one will come at the draft.”

The Hurricanes already have made some personnel decisions. Carolina announced Thursday forward Chris Terry, who set career highs in goals (11) and points (20) last season, had been signed to a one-year NHL contract that will pay him $875,000 next season.

At the same time, Francis said three pending unrestricted free agents – forward Patrick Dwyer and defensemen Brett Bellemore and Jack Hillen – would not be re-signed. Free agency begins Wednesday.

Dwyer has played 416 games in parts of seven seasons with the Hurricanes. The gritty winger has been used on different lines and been a hustler on the penalty kill.

“It’s tough. He’s been a good player for us,” Francis said. “But at this point we’re moving in a different direction.”

As for the draft, there are two givens: the Edmonton Oilers will take forward Connor McDavid with the No. 1 pick, and Buffalo then will take forward Jack Eichel. Then, all bets are off.

The Arizona Coyotes have the No. 3 choice but may be looking to trade down in the first round, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have the No. 4 pick.

Defenseman Noah Hanifin of Boston College could be a player the Hurricanes look to land. Then again, it might be forward Mitch Marner of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

“I just want to go to the team that wants me,” Hanifin said Thursday in a media session in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “We’re all competitive guys and want to go high, but at the same there are a lot of good players in the draft, and I’m excited not knowing what’s going to happen.”

Hanifin was interviewed by the Canes at the NHL prospects combine in Buffalo, N.Y., and said he was to have a second interview with Carolina in Fort Lauderdale before the draft. Marner also said he will have a second interview, and Francis said five interview sessions are set.

The knock on Marner has been his size – he’s listed at 5 feet 11 and 163 pounds. Tony MacDonald, the Canes’ director of amateur scouting, has used the phrase “skilled, slippery, smart” to describe a player who had 44 goals and 82 assists in 63 games for London last season.

“You don’t have to be big to play in the NHL,” Marner said. “If you have the speed and the skill, you can do it.”

Marner showed some fearlessness Thursday during a prospects visit to Everglades Holiday Park, a wildlife preserve, wrapping a snake around his shoulders and neck at a snake “petting” area.

“I’ve never gotten that close to a snake before,” Marner said.

Asked what kind of snake it was, Marner smiled, saying, “I’m not really sure, to be honest. They said it wouldn’t bite you, that it was used to being around people.”

After that, how scary can the draft be?

McDavid has been compared to Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby, and there are few doubts about his skills and potential. Eichel, who starred at Boston University, may be in the Sabres’ lineup next season.

The Canes would like to think that the No. 5 pick can do the same. If they pick fifth.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 8:46 PM with the headline "Canes have an open mind about 5th pick in NHL draft."