Hurricanes boast some of the best NCAA defensemen

by jfhammon on Feb 16, 2012 6:18 PM EST

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13758/top10_ncaa_defensemen/

I don't want to give it away but we kind of ran away with these rankings. And I think Brian Dumoulin (ranked #3) should have been #2.

I'm really more interested in the discussion than spouting off my own opinions about this and I'd rather not copy any of the article directly in to this post so I'm just going to write this really long rambling run on sentence in order to make the word minimum for SBnation.

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Sweet link. Thanks for that.

by Gillimus on Feb 16, 2012 8:45 PM EST reply actions

Nothing better than have the experts give this rating to 3 of our draft picks. While there is so much focus on our offensive needs, we need to fill more important gaps in our defense. If just one is “Faulk” ready we are in good shape next season.

by surgalt on Feb 16, 2012 9:03 PM EST reply actions

Biega and Dumoulin should both be ready to sign entry level contracts this summer (Biega is a senior so he has few options). If the reason Dumoulin hasn’t joined us yet is because he has no interest in playing here than he might return for a senior season but I haven’t heard anything like that. Hopefully he and John Muse got along well and that creates an extra incentive for him to want to sign up. Alt could probably use another year in the NCAA. I hope we have enough room in Charlotte for all these incoming guys…

by jfhammon on Feb 17, 2012 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

Dumoulin has not signed because he did not feel he was ready, wanted to work on d-zone coverage and physical play.

Biega is academically a senior but actually has a year of eligibility left, so his options are there.

Alt will likely play out his full four years to fill out his frame, improve his skating and really become a fulltime hockey player considering this is only his 2nd season only focusing on hockey.

by Caniac Kid on Feb 17, 2012 9:06 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

I appreciate the excellent and concise summary. I do hope Dumoulin signs this year. Alt is a sleeper. He is an excellent athlete and could blossom into quite a defenseman.

by abramsdoug on Feb 17, 2012 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

Agree

And both Alt and Duloulin have SIZE!!! We need that—though Faulk is showing how moderate size with good strength can work as well. Neither Dumoulin or Alt are offensive liabilities either—and beside being bigm they aren’t pylons. Alt still needs better skating but is improving.

by Squeaky83 on Feb 17, 2012 9:49 AM EST up reply actions

If they sign they won’t necessarily wait until summer. They can sign as soon as the collegiate season is over and can go straight to the Canes or to Charlotte to help with their playoff run. That’s usually how it plays out for college guys going pro who are top prospects. We may also still see Murphy this year in Charlotte.

by sittler27 on Feb 18, 2012 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Murphy

Didn’t think Murphy could play in the AHL due to his age, not yet 20?

Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water ~ W.C. Fields

by SouthernHockeyFan on Feb 18, 2012 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

Murphy cannot play until he is 20 OR his JR team’s season has ended

by Caniac Kid on Feb 18, 2012 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Right. I was thinking he heads to Charlotte as soon as Kitchener’s season is over. Although the way the kid has been playing lately he may lead them to a deep OHL run.
Good chance that Dumoulin’s season will be over earlier and that if he decided to turn pro that we see him in Charlotte or even a couple of games with the Canes. He is a big kid that plays an NHL type game and they may want to see what he can do at that level to get a feel for next year planning. While I like him, Murphy and Faulk, I a sceptical that you can start three very young players at D and hope to playoff team.

by sittler27 on Feb 19, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

wow…. really need to preview before I post in a hurry. Last sentence should read: …." I am sceptical that you can start three very young players at D and hope to be a playoff team".

by sittler27 on Feb 19, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

Muller and the Trajectory Toward Playoffs

My recollection is that when Muller first came to the Hurricanes he was asked by a Canadian reporter (and I cannot remember who it was) whether the Hurricanes were a playoff team. The report was that Muller indicated the Hurricanes were two or three years away from being a Cup Contender. I have not seen that comment repeated; and I wondered at the time if it was really an accurate quote.

Your comment that it is hard to envision a team with three very young defensemen making the playoffs brought that earlier report to mind. If Faulk, McBain, Murphy, and possibly Dumoulin all start next season, the Hurricanes would have one of the most talented young defense crew in the NHL; but it would be hard to envision them all being so poised and mature that the playoffs would be in the picture.

I wonder if the Hurricanes organization is prepared to endure the pain it would take to start so many young defensemen no matter how talented they all are. My mind goes back and forth on the issue. Chicago paid the price of having young, highly skilled players. The Penguins also paid the price. Edmonton is now paying the price. I could be persuaded either way on this question.

by abramsdoug on Feb 19, 2012 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

AD,

I love your optimism but aside from Faulk how can you confidently say we would “one of the most talented young defense crew in the NHL.” I am just as optimistic as the next, but you cannot say that Murphy and Dumoulin are NHL, nor can you make the assessment that they are going to surefire NHL studs.

I am very excited for both Murphy and Dumoulin, however, there have been numerous cases of people coming in with far greater hype and potentially even greater skill and not panning out.

If Murphy and DUmoulin reach their expected potential and perform to the highest of that, then yes your assessment would be true about our defense. However, I think as has been with the case with our forwards prospects, we need to be cautious with our expectations and be hopeful, but not blinded by expectations.

by Caniac Kid on Feb 19, 2012 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

My assumption is that Muller and the coaching staff would not have Dumoulin and/or Murphy on the roster unless they were able to fulfill the high standards the coaches set for everybody.

by abramsdoug on Feb 19, 2012 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

'I am very excited for both Murphy and Dumoulin, however, there have been numerous cases of people coming in with far greater hype and potentially even greater skill and not panning out.'

Seriously? Name a few of these prospects.
While Murphy has enjoyed his share of hype, Dumoulin has flown under the radar during his time in college.
Faulk, more or less, flew under the radar during his year in college, and when he did make it to the Checkers he was just ok.

Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water ~ W.C. Fields

by SouthernHockeyFan on Feb 20, 2012 9:51 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe Dumoulin has been flying under your radar, but he has been very much on many others. In his freshman year he lead Boston College to a National Championship. He was on the Hockey East all rookie team and made the NCAA Frozen Four All Tournament team as one of the two best D. He was also +40 that year.

In his Sophmore year he played on the bronze winning team USA Junior team. This year he is again rated one of the top D in College and leads all College Hockey East D in scoring. Most hockey analysts have him rated as a top pairing D prospect.

And if you look at the many published reports on Canes prospects he is often in the top 3 or 4 listed. I think he is every bit as blue chip a prospect as Murphy and for those that follow college and junior hockey his name is right up in all the write ups, so I don’t consider his as “under the radar”.

by sittler27 on Feb 20, 2012 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

Hmmm really? I was talking beyond our own prospects, but if you want me to name some of our own, how about Jeff Heerema, Nikos Tselios, David Tanabe, and this is only to name a few. Should I continue to name players outside of our organization?

As far as Dumoulin, I am not saying the kid has been posted on billboards as the second coming from the Hockey Gods. But after his freshman year he has had a lot of attention and considered to be a steal of the draft. Thus, yes he has hype and even if the hype is only limited to our fans and organization, it is still hype none the less.

All I am saying is that we should have controlled optimism until we actually are able to see them play at the NHL prior to declaring they will be NHL performers. I am optimistic they will be, but at the same time I hate seeing that same optimism placed on players like Boychuk and then have to have their talents not come to fruition.

by Caniac Kid on Feb 20, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Seriously.

Four defensemen drafted in the top 12 in ‘05 didn’t even make it to two full seasons as NHL-ers.

Hi, my name is Michael Procton, and I will mindf*** you with logical yet (often) pessimistic retorts until the cows come home. Good Day.
--by Aisander D on Feb 4, 2012 7:59 PM EST
I gotta stop takin' my baths durin' Peter's shenanigans.

by MichaelProcton on Feb 21, 2012 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

Nothing wrong with that statement whatsoever.

You can only have so many players learning on the job at the same time.

by MichaelProcton on Feb 21, 2012 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

First, thanks jfhammon for bringing this article to our attention. It really helps one to get a perspective on just what the status of some of our young defensemen is. It was really refreshing to see that some were not only skilled, but also had some excellent size and the grit to use it. I won’t repeat the comments of the other Caniacs, but agree with them all.

Thanks again fhammon.

by FoxtrotSierra on Feb 17, 2012 11:35 AM EST reply actions