Even with all eyes focused on the present amid another season where the Carolina Hurricanes have Stanley Cup aspirations, keeping an eye on the future is always vital. The sustained success of the organization is dependent on the development of the youngsters in the system, and that has been a major focus of the team — with a league-high 33 selections over the past 3 NHL drafts.
Since the appointment of Don Waddell to general manager, the team has showed a serious willingness to draft players based in Russia — which is something that a number of NHL teams actively avoid.