2016 NHL Draft: Carolina Hurricanes select forward Julien Gauthier 21st overall

National Hockey League, NHL.com
National Hockey League, NHL.com
National Hockey League, NHL.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Carolina Hurricanes selected forward Julien Gauthier with their second selection, 21st overall, at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft held at First Niagara Center on Friday.

Gauthier led the Val-D’or Foreurs and tied for sixth in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with 41 goals to go along with 16 assists in 54 games in 2015-16.

“I’m so happy,” Gauthier said when asked about being drafted by the Hurricanes.

“I’m going to work hard next season.”

The six-foot-four-inch, 225-pound right winger also played for Team Canada, serving as the youngest player on their roster at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr described Gauthier as “a big guy that doesn’t have any holes in his game. His hockey sense is good. You know he can shoot and score.”