Originally considered a near-guaranteed top-four selection, Noah Hanifin has gradually become a possibility for the Carolina Hurricanes at No. 5.
Hanifin, a 6'2" defenseman from Boston College, stands out as the consensus best player at his position in the 2015 NHL draft. He's a power-play quarterback with size, a puck-moving rearguard with god-like hockey sense.
But Mitchell Marner's ascension into top-four conversation—both the Coyotes at No. 3 and the Maple Leafs at No. 4 could give him strong consideration—could serve to bump Hanifin down into Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis' clutches.
The past year, moreover, has certainly proved that Francis plans to build a defensive identity for the 'Canes moving forward.