Today training camps across the NHL got underway as players hit the ice for the first time under guidance of coaching staffs’ as teams prepare for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
As the case with many teams in the NHL, there are positions up for grabs with players fighting for the last couple of spots on the 23 man roster. In Carolina, one area that is pretty much set is the top 6 defensemen on the roster.
When the Carolina Hurricanes open the season on October 11th against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning it is no secret that the starting six defenders will be Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere and Jalen Chatfield. The 7th spot however, is a different story.
Related: Jaccob Slavin Ranked As NHL’s 13th Best Defenseman
Amongst the defensemen in the mix for that 7th spot are Riley Stillman, Ty Smith and one of the Hurricanes top prospects in Scott Morrow.
Stillman, 26, was signed by the Hurricanes on July 3rd and could be one of the leading candidates to earn the role of being the Canes 7th defender. Last year Stillman played in 47 games for the Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate in the Rochester Americans. While Stillman did not play a game in the NHL last season, he does have 158 games of NHL experience split between the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres. Stillman is known for playing a simple game and is more than capable of stepping into the lineup when called upon.
If head coach Rod Brind’Amour wants his 7th defenseman as someone who can skate well and move the puck, Ty Smith could very well fit that bill. Smith came to the Hurricanes in the Jake Guentzel trade but did not suit up for the Hurricanes. Like Stillman, Smith did not play a game in the NHL last year, as he spent the whole season in the American league where he led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in scoring with 43 points in 63 games. Smiths’ career started off with much promise after he scored 23 points in only 48 games with the New Jersey Devils in his first season. At only still being 24-years-old, Smith will look to show he belongs on a NHL roster in camp.
The last potential option and the one with the most upside is Scott Morrow. Morrow was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft by the Hurricanes and is the Hurricanes 2nd best defensive prospect behind Alexander Nikishin, who could arrive from the KHL as soon as this season.
Related: Top Prospect Alexander Nikishin Could Join Hurricanes This Season.
Morrow turned pro last season for a quick cup of coffee in the NHL when he played two games for Carolina after finishing up his collegiate career playing for UMass-Amherst for the last three seasons. Last year in his Junior season, Morrow led the Minuteman in scoring with tallying 30 points in 37 games played. While there is no doubt that Morrows’ future long-term will certainly be with Carolina, there is a possibility that Rod Brind’Amour and his staff would rather Morrow further develop by logging a lot of minutes for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL rather than by sitting in the press box on most nights as the teams 7th defenseman.
