Canes' Sign 2010 First Rounder, Skinner

  The Carolina Hurricanes announced Tuesday they have signed their 1st round 2010 7th overall draft pick Jeff Skinner to a three-year entry-level contract.

  The contract will pay Skinner $810,000 at the NHL level, or $67,500 at the minor level with a $270,000 signing bonus.

"Jeff was one of the OHL's top forwards last season and really stood out at the prospects tournament in Michigan," said Hurricanes president and GM Jim Rutherford. "He's an exciting, young player and an important part of the future for the Hurricanes."

  The 18 year-old Markham, Ontario native has played the past two years for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL where he has posted 141 points in 127 games. Last year for Kitchener he tallied 50 goals and 40 assists for 90 points in just 64 games. He followed up his ability to light the lamp in the post season where he netted another 20 goals and 13 assists in 20 playoff games, 9 goals of which were on the powerplay. He led Canada's U-18 team in goal scoring with six, and two in the gold medal game against Russia including the game winning goal. He played for Team Orr in the 2010 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game, and was named Most Valuable Player after picking up a goal and an assist in the contest, and he also skated in the 2010 OHL All-Star Game, netting one goal. In all, the centerman scored 76 goals during the course of last year, while his new NHL club struggled mightily to do so.

  Skinner has pure goal scoring ability and is tops in that category, even on par with 1st overall 2010 NHL Entry Draft Pick, Taylor Hall. Skinner, at 5’10 193lbs. isn’t the largest in stature, but his incredible leg strength and hard work ethic make him primed for the NHL even at 18 years of age.

  The Carolina Hurricanes have all but handed Skinner a spot on the team, but hold full right to send him back to the OHL should they decide he’s not ready. They can’t, however, send him to the AHL due to the collective bargaining agreement.

  The Hurricanes are amidst a major rebuild process that could either see Jeff Skinner on the team with heaps of ice-time, or see him off to Kitchener as not to spoil any bit of development from this prized possession acquired through the draft.


  Skinner will be an elite goal scorer in the NHL, but it’s not decided yet if his NHL career will start this year. My money would be on the fact that he does play for Carolina this year, and if he does he will join the list of players likely to be fighting for the Calder Trophy this season. Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Magnus Paajarvi, John Carlson, P.K. Subban, Erik Gudbranson, and Jordan Eberle are some of the top rookies expected to make a serious impact this year, but the young sniper may well have them beat if he finds the back of the net like he did last year. There is no doubt that this year's rookie class fighting for the Calder Trophy is one of the best we've seen in some time, with, or without Skinner.

- Kendall Grubbs