When the Carolina Hurricanes stepped to the podium during the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, then-GM Ron Francis had defense on his mind. The selection of Haydn Fleury with the seventh overall pick looked to be a solid one.
On paper, the then-seventeen year-old stood 6’3″ and weighed 201 pounds, and looked as if could provide a physical presence on the Carolina Hurricanes blue line for many years to come. During the 2013/14 season Haydn Fleury scored 46 points in 70 games ( 8 goals and 38 assists) for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. With that strong performance during his draft year, scouts and pundits hailed Fleury as a solid pick at number seven. With those…
