February 01, 2012 4:09 PM
Just days after singling out two Checkers forwards for their recent play, Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford has now rewarded both with NHL recalls.
 Wednesday was Drayson Bowman’s turn, as the Canes summoned him to Boston on Wednesday to play in the following night’s game against the Bruins. Bowman joins Charlotte teammate Riley Nash, who met up with the Canes earlier in the week and played in Tuesday’s loss to the New York Islanders.
Both Bowman and Nash impressed Rutherford during his visit to Charlotte last week, as evidenced in an interview conducted by Checkers broadcaster Jason Shaya during Friday’s loss to Rockford.
Bowman, who is replacing the Canes' Chad LaRose (day-to-day with an illness) has played 13 games with Carolina over the course of two separate recalls this season, scoring 5 points (2g, 3a). All of his scoring came during his most-recent 11 game stint that marked the most productive of his three-year professional career. He had just 3 additional points (2g, 1a) in his previous 34 NHL contests.
Between the end of that stint and this recall, Bowman had been the Checkers’ most efficient forward behind All-Star Chris Terry, posting 8 points (3g, 5a) in his last six games. He has 4 points (1g, 3a) during an active three-game point streak and ranked third among active Charlotte skaters with 11 goals, including 6 on the power play.
Jared Staal becomes the most obvious candidate to replace Bowman in the Checkers’ lineup, though Justin Shugg could potentially complicate that if he were to make his return from a month-and-a-half-long injury on Friday in Oklahoma City. Shugg practiced with the team on Wednesday, with coach Jeff Daniels saying that the rookie could possibly accompany the team on the road trip.
Fans in Charlotte can watch Bowman and Nash, along with the previously-recalled Justin Faulk and Justin Peters, play for the Hurricanes during Thursday’s Cool Bars viewing party at the Carolina Ale House uptown. |
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