What does this new affiliation agreement mean for player development, and how does the location impact player call-ups?
Waddell: Our development coaches like Sergei Samsonov, Tim Gleason, Paul Schonfelder and Peter Harrold all have previously spent time in Charlotte to help develop our young players, so this does not change much. If anything, it enhances it. Chicago is a major hub city to fly in and out of for everybody. Before the pandemic started, there were 13 or 14 flights a day from Raleigh to Chicago. It does not matter what part of the country you are in, getting in and out of Chicago is very easy to do.
What type of investments have the Hurricanes made in player development?
Waddell: It all starts with drafting. Darren Yorke oversees our amateur draft. We've changed a lot of the way we approach the draft and assets since Tom Dundon took over as owner of the team. We changed how we move draft picks around to get more assets, and the more assets you have, the better chance you have of players reaching the next level. Once we draft a player, that day is over and then it becomes all about spending the time to develop them. After the draft, we bring in our players to meet with the developmental staff and Bill Burniston, our head strength and conditioning coach, and by the time they leave here, every player has a custom program. Some players need to work on foot speed, some need to work on strength, so Bill and our staff make sure that what each player is focused on will improve them as a hockey player. It's not all about physical fitness, but they all have custom, individual programs they can focus on to help each player become a better hockey player and hopefully a Carolina Hurricane.