The Carolina Hurricanes and new head coach Bill Peters gathered the team's top prospects for summer development camp on Monday, and one player that stood out early on is Brock McGinn of the OHL's Guelph Storm.
"I noticed him," Peters told The Raleigh News & Observer in regards to the team's second round pick in 2012. "He has real good skill in tight and good hands. I know he plays the game hard. I know his reputation. He’s a competitive player, and that’s what we want here in Carolina.”
McGinn scored 43 goals and added 42 assists in 58 games for the Storm this past season, and chipped in 12 points in 12 playoff games despite a nagging wrist injury.
Storm head coach (and former Hurricanes forward) Scott Walker believes McGinn isn't far off from following older brothers Jamie (Colorado Avalanche) and Tye (San Jose Sharks) by making the jump to the NHL.
“That’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid, to say he’s ready for the NHL, and he’s certainly not expecting anyone to give him anything," Walker said. "He’s going to work his butt off, and I think people will love the way he plays.”
"You can’t overlook the bloodlines,” Walker added. “Brock’s watched his brothers in the NHL and knows the right things to do.”
After having given McGinn a close look early on in camp, Peters said the 20-year-old "should be trying to come in here and make our hockey team," and Walker believes he might just prove to be a player you can't ignore in training camp.
“There are always players in camp who make you say, ‘How can we cut this kid?’" Walker said. “They come in and play hard one day, then play even harder the next day. Brock can do that."
