Safe to say, nobody expected that more than 5 years after the Carolina Hurricanes drafted Haydn Fleury in the 1st round of the 2014 draft, he still wouldn’t be a mainstay in the team’s lineup. The Hurricanes defensive picture has changed astronomically since Ron Francis touted Fleury to be the guy to lead his Hurricanes defense-first rebuild.
For Fleury, nothing has been necessarily his fault. His development was done the right way for young defensemen – slow and steady. He was given ample time to get stronger, learn defensive systems and hone his overall game.