Carolina Hurricanes selects Haydn Fleury with 7th overall pick in NHL Draft

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With the 7th overall pick at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft on Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes have selected Red Deer Rebels defender Haydn Fleury.

Fleury is a capable two-way defenseman with a whole host of above average tools. A strong skater with NHL size and a significant physical edge to his game, Fleury logged major minutes against top competition as an 18-year-old defender for a mediocre Rebels team.

On a team that missed the WHL playoffs and was outscored by 10 goals on the season, Fleury managed a +15 even-strength goal differential. Fleury's +15 mark was the best goal differential on the team, and the only player close was his most common defensive partner Nick Charif.

Though Fleury wasn't as offensively productive as some of the other defenders in this draft class - Anthony D'Angelo and Julius Honka in particular - his two-way acumen, large frame, and physical style seems likely to translate well at the professional level.