Hurricanes infuse youth into roster while prepping for Habs

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes recalled forwards Brock McGinn and Phil Di Giuseppe, along with defenseman Jaccob Slavin from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Friday.

Following a 5-1 loss to New Jersey on Thursday, the team elected to not skate during its previously scheduled practice time ahead of a weekend back-to-back set of games against the Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes on Saturday and Sunday.

Instead, the team placed a call to bring up the Checkers’ leaders in various statistical categories in hopes of generating some positive mojo for a team that is on a three-game losing streak, and hit an emotional low in the loss to the Devils.

In order to not fully deplete the AHL club’s roster and to make room in Raleigh, the team reassigned defenseman Ryan Murphy back to Charlotte, who had returned briefly after a conditioning stint in the Queen City following a concussion injury.

All 2012 draft prospects, McGinn leads the group in NHL experience.

A second-round pick (47th overall), McGinn earned two points in his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 16, and has totaled three points (2g, 1a) in 12 games played for Carolina following a previous recall this season.

The energetic and physical young forward has scored six goals and added one assist (7 points) in 10 games with Charlotte this year, and has earned 34 points (21g, 13a) in 87 career AHL games.

Carolina’s fourth round pick (120th overall) in that 2012 NHL Draft, Slavin currently ranks second among Charlotte defensemen with seven assists in 14 AHL games this season, and leads all Checkers skaters with a plus-6 plus/minus rating.

The sizeable blueliner earned one assist in six games at the NHL level this season.

He made his NHL debut for the Hurricanes on Nov. 20 against Toronto, and earned his first NHL point with an assist against the Rangers 10 days later.

Di Giuseppe ranks second among Checkers skaters in scoring this season with 14 points (6g, 8a) in 20 games, and earned first career NHL recall since being selected by Carolina in the second-round (38th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft.

He’s currently in his second full professional season, and has totaled 45 points (17g, 28a) in 99 career AHL games for Charlotte.