Los Angeles, CA. The Carolina Hurricanes might have fallen into the steal of the draft on Saturday when they scooped up Windsor Spitfire forward Justin Shugg in the 4rth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Shugg was the second leading scorer on the Memorial Cup winning team behind first overall pick Taylor Hall.
While the Canes were busy addressing an organizational need on the blueline during the second and third rounds, when the fourth round came around they could barely believe that Shugg was still available.
"We certainly had him higher on our list than where he went," said Tony MacDonald, Director of Hurricanes Amateur Scouting. The high scoring winger said that some teams told him that he would probably go in the second round.
Shugg considers himself to be "a winner" and so far has proven that point with results as he has won two consecutive Memorial Cups with the Spitfires. He had 39 goals and 40 assists in his most recent regular season and contributed 5 goals and 13 assists in 18 playoff games.
Windsor Coach and former Hurricane Bob Boughner is looking for big things from Shugg next season and the forward said he hopes not to disappoint.
"I just hope not to prove him wrong and the Carolina Hurricanes wrong in the next couple of years."
For more information about Justin, check out this bio by the CSS here. (They had him ranked as the 53rd best player in the draft.)
Following is his post draft interview with the media.