Report: Kingston Frontenacs top star is the Hurricanes’ 2024 draft choice.
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is officially one month away, even if the playoffs are still in progress. The Sphere in Las Vegas, NV will host the draft on June 28 and 29. In the first round, the Carolina Hurricanes will select with the 27th overall pick. The fan base has some concerns about the potential picks that the organization might make at that point. Bradly Nadeau, of the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), was chosen with the thirty-first overall choice in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
It could be preferable for Carolina to search for the next generation of wingers in the forthcoming draft. Since they are packed with pure centers, they appear to be short overall on both sides of the ice. They also appear to have guys who are capable of playing center and wing. While flexibility has its advantages, having true wingers to round out a team is also advantageous. Nevertheless, using the 27th choice in the first round to select a genuine winger might be the best course of action. Carolina may choose to use one player from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to assist the club down the road on the right side of the ice.
The Kingston Frontenacs’ left-shot right-winger Jacob Battaglia is one prospect the Hurricanes can look at with the 27th overall pick. He is an 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, and in 2023–24, he participated in the Frontenacs’ second professional season. In 67 games during his second season with Kingston, he scored 31 goals and 65 points, and in five postseason contests, he scored three goals and four points. Compared to year one, when he finished with seven goals and 27 points in 66 games, there was a significant improvement in year two. He has 92 points, 38 goals, and 54 assists in 133 games with Kingston over his two seasons in the OHL.
Battaglia can blend in nicely with the Hurricanes, despite his combined minus-28 record with the Frontenacs. After a sluggish start to the 2023–24 campaign, the 6-foot–203-pound winger proved to be a reliable player who played top–line minutes for the squad. In addition, as the season went on, he developed into one of the Frontenacs’ most potent powerplay players. As of right now, he is ranked 42nd among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting. But since his rookie season in the OHL, he has risen up the rankings thanks to his unwavering work ethic and drive.
Battaglia is expected to be selected anywhere in the second or third round of the draft. If he makes it that far, the Hurricanes will have the 60th overall pick in the second round. Should he fail to do so, there’s a possibility they might advance in a trade up the draft board. But selecting him with the 27th overall choice is the best chance to obtain him. Getting Battaglia there wouldn’t be too difficult, especially if he can assist the squad in the future with powerplays
Battaglia also shows off his excellent to exceptional puckhandling skills when he has the puck on his stick. This is when he really shines. By itself, that gives him the ability to move through the neutral zone and position himself to be successful in the offensive zone. Then, he is able to make plays by giving himself or a teammate an opportunity to shoot. On the offensive end, Battaglia strikes a good mix between establishing scoring opportunities and displaying his potent playmaking skills. He has established himself as a serious threat in the offensive zone with those skills. The Hurricanes might stand to gain a lot from
if a player like Battaglia is able to see time on the powerplay and is positioned in the top nine or middle six going forward.
