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The Carolina Hurricanes’ schedule for the upcoming season was released this week and the World Juniors also began, where four Hurricanes prospects are representing their respective countries. Here’s the weekly recap:
HURRICANES’ 2020-21 SCHEDULE RELEASED
Carolina’s 2020-21 schedule was released this week. The Hurricanes will open the season against the Detroit Red Wings on January 14.
WORLD JUNIORS UPDATE
Carolina currently has four prospects playing in the World Juniors, representing three different teams. Here are their stats (after the Canada vs Slovakia game on Sunday):
Vasiliy Ponomarev (RUS): 2G, 0A (2 GP) Noel Gunler (SWE): 1G, 0A (1 GP) Zion Nybeck (SWE): 0G, 1A (1 GP) Ryan Suzuki (CAN): 1G, 0A (2 GP)
HURRICANES RE-SIGN ROLAND MCKEOWN
The Hurricanes also re-signed defenseman Roland McKeown to a one-year deal. McKeown was loaned to a team in Sweden’s highest professional league, the SHL.
As for our poll questions, here are the results, along with my thoughts on how they turned out.
QUESTION: Do you think Roland McKeown will earn a full-time role in the Hurricanes’ lineup at some point?
(Votes: 61)
No: 74% Yes: 26%
I also think it’s unlikely that McKeown wins a lineup spot with the Hurricanes. Carolina’s defense group is just too strong and while he’ll likely end up as a spare on the roster, with so many other quality defense prospects in the system as well, winning a spot in the lineup will be a difficult task.
QUESTION: Do you think the Hurricanes will make any more notable moves before the season?
(Votes: 63)
No: 73% Yes: 27%
As I stated in the article, I think the Hurricanes are likely done making moves this offseason. They don’t have the cap space to do so and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to offload either Ryan Dzingel or Jake Gardiner before the season begins.
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OTHER HURRICANES ARTICLES FROM DECEMBER:
Jesper Sellgren is an underrated prospect for the Hurricanes Noel Gunler and Zion Nybeck named to Sweden’s preliminary WJC roster Hurricanes are reportedly in the mix to sign Mikael Granlund Weekly Recap: Hurricanes Edition (December 6) An early prediction for which 2021 UFAs will re-sign with the Hurricanes Does a division realignment help or hurt the Hurricanes? Suzuki named to Team Canada’s World Juniors roster, Jarvis and Rees cut Vasiliy Ponomarev named to Russia’s final World Juniors roster Noel Gunler and Zion Nybeck named to Sweden’s final WJC roster Weekly Recap: Hurricanes Edition (December 14) Hurricanes re-sign Roland McKeown Hurricanes are unlikely to make any major moves before start of season