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We have a trade to announce! The Carolina Hurricanes made their second trade of the day during Saturday’s second round, admittedly a bit smaller deal than their first one. The Canes were supposed to pick twice in the final round, but sent the 216th pick to the New York Rangers for Boston’s seventh round pick in 2019.
With their final pick of the day at No. 197, the Canes took American goalie Jacob Kucharski. Kucharski already has a good frame at six-foot-four and 216 pounds. He posted a .881 save percentage and 3.56 goals-against average with the Des Moines Buccanneers of the USHL, and is committed to Providence College but he told the media that he will return to Des Moines next season.
They Said It
This kind of came as a surprise to me. I haven’t had much communication with [the Hurricanes] but I was certainly glad when it happened. It’s kind of a blur.
I think every goalie has their own kind of unique way. Right now I think I’m kind of a mix of Pekka Rinne and Matt Murray. A bigger guy, trying to refine the technical aspects, but I think I have the athleticism and the skating ability.
Puck handling is a big thing that every goalie needs to work on, and then just kind of fine tune everything else. I just want to be ready to where I can step in in Providence, be the guy there, then continue to move up.
Tony’s Take
Canes scouting director Tony MacDonald:
A big man, probably would say that he should have had a better year in Des Moines because I think he came in under .900, but he has tremendous upside. Our goalie guys liked him a lot. They liked his size, his competitiveness, the fact that he can develop and he’s quick. We were looking to take at least one goalie, and he was the player that fit the time of the pick that we had at that point.