Grading the NHL Performance of Each Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Defenseman

The Carolina Hurricanes have used much of the latter half of their lost 2014-15 season to rotate a number of young AHL defensemen into the NHL lineup, with mixed results to show from it.

Three rookies—Michal Jordan (age 24), Danny Biega (23) and Rasmus Rissanen (23)—as well as former 12th overall pick Ryan Murphy (22) have been worked into the 'Canes defensive depth chart.

All have shown growth since arriving in Raleigh after years with AHL Charlotte and, along with recently signed Roland McKeown and 2014 first-rounder Haydn Fleury, represent an increasingly deep base of young defensemen at Carolina's disposal.

But the youth movement is not without low points. All four players were on the ice Thursday as the Florida Panthers torched the 'Canes for six goals.

How has each up-and-coming 'Canes defenseman performed in the 2014-15 season? A breakdown lies on the coming slides.

Note: Advanced stats per War-on-Ice.com. 

Stat Line: 35 GP, 2 goals, 4 assists, minus-6, 16:01 average TOI

Advanced Stats: 50.91 Corsi percentage, 58.04 offensive zone start percentage

The former Charlotte Checkers captain has proved a reliable third-pairing option since making his season debut on Nov. 26, registering the first six points of his NHL career and limiting the mistakes typical of a young defenseman.

Both of Jordan's goals have come as a result of smart pinches on the power play, and he's taken just one minor penalty himself in 35 games. The Czech Republic native is deployable as both an offensive and defensive defenseman and quietly leads all active 'Canes in blocked shots per game.

Jordan has a limited ceiling but has shown in 2014-15 his ability to grow into a responsible lower-pairing rearguard in future years.

Grade: B

Stat Line: 33 GP, 3 goals, 9 assists, minus-11, 18:18 average TOI

Advanced Stats: 52.22 Corsi percentage, 60.00 offensive zone start percentage

The only one of the four with prior NHL experience (and also by the far the highest expectations), Murphy continues to show flashes of playmaking excellence but can't quite his find his NHL rhythm.

Twelve points in 33 games matches Murphy's production from 48 appearances last season, and there's no doubt that No. 7 has made strides defensively in his game as well. In 2013-14, opposing teams averaged 61.31 shot attempts per 60 minutes against Murphy; this year, they've averaged just 52.26.

But 10 of the top 11 selections from the 2011 draft have already made more than 110 appearances in their NHL careers while Murphy (the No. 12 selection) remains at just 85. The Ontario native never seems to be able to stick in the NHL for a few months before being reassigned to Charlotte, either.

Murphy is not very far behind the development curve, but he is behind it nevertheless.

Grade: B-

Stat Line: 8 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, minus-3, 16:01 average TOI

Advanced Stats: 55.98 Corsi percentage, 53.09 offensive zone start percentage

Since his first career call-up in March, Biega has played in eight consecutive games for the 'Canes.

And although the sample size is limited, Biega's positive impressions are not: Playing against harder competition and given less favorable shifts than each of the others on this list, Biega still leads the group in Corsi percentage.

In fact, among 'Canes with five or more games played, only the Staal brothers and Andrej Nestrasil have faced tougher competition on average than Biega has. Challenged by head coach Bill Peters to survive under relatively tough conditions, the 6'0" defenseman is piling up hits (23 in eight games) and finding a way into the box score, too.

The 2010 third-round pick and Harvard graduate has certainly earned a longer look at the NHL level.

Grade: A

Stat Line: 6 GP, 0 goals, 0 assists, minus-5, 14:58 average TOI

Advanced Stats: 49.66 Corsi percentage, 75.56 offensive zone start percentage

The mid-March MCL injury that Rissanen incurred may have actually been a positive for both Rissanen and the 'Canes: the latter has continued to collect salary at the NHL rate during the time since, while the Hurricanes have avoided suffering further from Rissanen's ineptitude at the NHL level. 

Not strongly trusted by the coaching staff from the start, Rissanen quickly proved to be an immense liability in all three zones. Skittish and turnover-prone with poor recovery ability and little to no puck-moving vision, it quickly became evident why the Finnish defenseman has failed to emerge as a top player at the AHL level even after spending years there.

This spring's disaster could be Rissanen's only venture to the NHL, as his stock has swiftly plummeted below a number of other defensemen in the 'Canes system.

Grade: D