Hurricanes should target Arizona’s Cullen Potter’s 29th draft pick – Hockey Writer – Carolina Hurricanes
While most of the hockey worlds will focus on the upcoming 2025 Stanley Cup finals, the other 30 teams (or will) focus on the NHL draft scheduled for June 27 and 28 in Los Angeles, California. Although it is dispersed, there are still high expectations for who will be selected. Regarding the Carolina Hurricanes, they will pick No. 29 in the upcoming draft. In the 2024 draft, the Hurricanes traded in the second round with the 34th and 50th picks in the first round. Could this be another situation where they traded in the first round to collect more draft capital? Or, will they keep it and draft the best player at the age of 29? If it were the latter, the hurricane should be targeting the person in that place, he came from the Arizona desert.
Will the road from the desert to Raleigh lead to Raleigh?
Players in the Arizona desert? It is Arizona State’s Center/Winner Cullen Potter. In his freshman year with the Sun Devils, he scored 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games. While this may not jump off the page, he did start his college career long ago as he was only 17 in his first season with the NCAA. What sets Potter apart is now 18, now from Hotonville, Wisconsin, who is one of the main players in the Sun Devils power play. Additionally, the puck on his stick thrives in any offensive situation and is someone who is always threatened on the ice. Porter drove the flash alone through the neutral zone without a puck. He also has a trick to find open areas, distribute pucks on haste, and facilitate breakthroughs.
Related: THW’s 2025 NHL Draft Guide
Even at the age of 18, his talents and skills stand out. He may be the one who sneaked down the draft ladder and landed in the 29th overall hurricane. Porter can be a dynamic player in an active offensive game and is able to add some spirit, rhythm and energy. Plus, with his incredible hockey IQ, he has enabled him to have all the qualities of an influential player.
When getting scout report from Chase Beardsley Hockey writer, He also covered the Sun Demon, and he had a lot of praise and feedback to Potter. He mentioned that his stick skills were incredible, with very obvious speed and agility. Just an overall great player with unreal speed. He is an offensive player, he may be full of energy and has more representation and a system that can really reach his potential. Although he still needs some work on the defense of the game, he deserves 29 if he falls into the Hurricane. Fortunately for Porter, the Hurricanes knew how to capture offensively strong guys and make them sensational two-way player, Seth Jarvis.
Related: Carolina Hurricanes’ playoff exit interview
One thing that might also attract the front desk and fan base is that Porter is within the scope of Logan Stankoven or Jarvis. By range, his height is 5 feet 9. The Hurricane knows everything about smaller players, but can unravel so much potential from it. What makes Potter dynamic at 5-foot-9 is his excellent skating and ability to create dangerous opportunities from rushing. As Beardsley mentioned, Potter’s illusory speed, agility and edge engineering make him a threat to transition, a hurricane’s development from defense to offense. They can take advantage of high-end motors and ruthless communications, while adding Porter can reach other potential in this aspect of the game.
most sportsScott Wheeler said of Porter: “At the best move forward at this age, Porter is a small, talented and extremely fast player who uses his electric speed to put defenders on his heels, pull them back, creates opportunistic opportunities, transitions, and jumps on loose hockey” (from the 2025 NHL NHL Draft Prospects, ” sportsMarch 25, 2025).
Elite Prospects are in No. 31 in the 2025 NHL Draft course. NHL Central Scouting put him at No. 22 among North American skaters and Bob McKenzie ranked No. 20 on the TSN board. Either way, if Porter gets stuck in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft, the best choice for the Hurricane is probably the best choice for the Hurricane. This pottery hockey magic may have some magic.
Hurricane has some decisions to be made at 29
The next major event for the Hurricane will be the 2025 NHL Draft scheduled for June 27-28, 2025. It will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California. This will be the first batch of scattered drafts, with the team selecting at their own home court. However, when their names are called, the highest draft players will be present. It would be interesting to see who will pick through the 29th pick, but it would make sense to choose Porter in that place. Only time can develop in which direction the draft day is.
