RALEIGH, NC – The Carolina Hurricanes on Friday selected defenseman Haydn Fleury with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia. The pick was the first of seven for Carolina in the draft which will continue with Rounds 2-7 on Saturday at 10 a.m. (NHL Network)
Fleury, 17, scored eight goals and earned 38 assists (46 points) in 70 games with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2013-14. He led all Rebels skaters with a plus-15 plus/minus rating despite Red Deer posting a minus-10 goal differential for the season. The Carlyle, Sask., native’s 38 assists ranked second on the team and his 46 points were good for 17th among WHL blueliners. Fleury has scored 12 goals and earned 53 assists (65 points) in 140 career WHL regular-season games with Red Deer.
In international play, Fleury (6’2”, 202 lbs.) was named Best Defenseman at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championship in Finland as Team Canada captured the bronze medal. He also represented Canada at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial, helping his home country win gold.
When the NHL Draft resumes on Saturday, the Hurricanes will select seventh in Rounds 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Along with each of its own picks in those rounds, Carolina also holds Vancouver’s fourth-round pick (96th overall).
