Hurricanes Win Second Overall Pick in 2018 NHL Draft

For the first time since 2003, the Carolina Hurricanes will pick second in the NHL Draft.
Entering Saturday's draft lottery holding the 11th pick, the Hurricanes defied the odds to win the second lottery draw and leapfrog nine teams in front of them to land the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

"You know who's probably going at one, so you can really plan for who you really want to take if you keep the pick," Hurricanes interim general manager Don Waddell said on a conference call. "The value of an 11th pick is good. The value of a No. 2 pick is great. It gives us an opportunity to look at a lot of different options."
This will mark the fourth time in franchise history that the Hurricanes have picked second overall. The most recent No. 2 pick came in 2003 when the Canes selected Eric Staal. Prior to that, Chris Pronger (1993) and Sylvain Turgeon (1983) were picked second overall by Hartford.
"This changes our strategy] 100 percent," Waddell said.
The 2018 NHL Draft will take place on June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, and the Hurricanes currently hold seven picks - one in each round except for none in the fifth and two in the seventh.
The Hurricanes' annual Draft Party will take place at Raleigh Beer Garden on Friday, June 22. The event, which is free to attend, begins at 6 p.m., and live draft coverage begins at 7 p.m. Click
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