Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Pyramid: 2024-2025

I suck at Graphic Design

Alright, I know this might be overdone as an idea. But I feel as if it’s almost needed since I get a lot of questions about where I rank certain prospects in relation to each other. So, welcome to the Hurricanes Prospect Pyramid, where I will rank prospects into 7 different categories and give reasoning as to why. The tiers include:

1. Elite player

2. Top 6/Top 4 player

3. Top 9/Bottom 4 player

4. Bottom 6/Bottom pairing player

5. Fringe NHL player

6. AHL All-star/Chance to play NHL games

7. Holding out hope

You might notice there is nothing goalies related on there. That’s because I’m separating skaters and goalies. In honesty, it’s just easier this way.

With this in mind, let’s start nice and easy. There is only 1 player in the first tier.

Tier One: Elite Player

Alexander Nikishin, LHD/RHD - He’s elite. If Jaccob Slavin plays on any other team in the NHL, Nikishin is the best defenseman on the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s going to give you top-level even strength minutes. He’s going to give you elite power-play quarterback numbers, especially since he isn’t afraid to shoot. He’s going to give you top penalty-killing minutes. Stop overthinking it, Alexander Nikishin is the top defensive prospect outside of the NHL and a top 5/7 prospect outside of the NHL. He’s going to be so unbelievably good and fans will see him, either at the end of the year in March/April or at the beginning of the 2025/26 NHL season.

Tier 2 has the rest of the top 5 prospects so let’s get tucked in.

Tier Two: Top 6/Top 4 Player

Bradly Nadeau, LW/RW - I’ve been running the “Bradly Nadeau for 2LW” campaign for the past few months because I believe he is truly ready for that opportunity. His shot is insanely powerful and accurate, his playmaking took a gigantic jump during his freshman season at Maine, his defense is good enough and his skating is NHL-ready. Brind’Amour can throw Nadeau on the second power-play unit and have him post up in Ovi’s Spot™ and be happy with the results. If he struggles on line 2, just flip him and one of the many wingers currently on the roster and staple him with on-ice rookie consultant Jordan Staal.

Felix Unger Sorum, RW/LW - It’s so incredibly tough to rank players 2-5 because there are viable cases for each player. Felix Unger Sorum is easily the most talented passer in the farm system and has a true case for also having the highest hockey IQ out of the bunch as well. Unger Sorum makes passes I truly didn’t know could be made and he does this consistently and at a high level. He needs to add some weight, desperately (the guy is a stick in person), but Unger Sorum has every tool to be a dominant playmaking forward at the NHL level.

Jackson Blake, RW - To quote former Mr. Canes Prospects Matthew Somma, “I feel like Jackson Blake still gets underrated by Canes fans. It’s like the current Mr. Canes Prospects doesn’t talk about him eno-” huh, weird the quote cut off there. In any case, Jackson Blake has true 200-foot potential and has the talent to play on both special teams units. He’s got some growing before he gets there but Jackson Blake is a real talent. His playmaking is very good, he’s not afraid to shoot the puck and he is a natural-born forechecker.

Scott Morrow, RHD - Morrow is an elite passer with incredible offensive skills. In his final season at UMass, he really developed his defense to a level passable at the NHL level while also finally using his frame to lay hits. People need to remember he’s 6’2, closer to 200 pounds. Morrow getting 20 minutes a night with power play time while also getting to learn the game from someone like Brent Burns during the offseason will do wonders for his development.

The top 5 prospects are in a league of their own, with respect to Nikishin who owns the penthouse. Tier 3 time!

Tier 3: Top 9/Bottom 4 (defenseman) player

Nikita Artamonov, LW - To use a format from the greatest college basketball poster of our generation, Jon Rothstein, “So much Michael Bunting in Nikita Artamonov.” Artamonov is an intense forechecker, not content to give defensemen breathing room. His offense is coming together, as his playmaking really stands out above everything else. His skating is also a plus attribute in his game along with his defense. If Artamonov could add a dynamic attribute, he would easily move up a tier. Until then, his role as a middle 6 demon is set in stone.

Justin Poirier, RW - One of the purest shooters I have gotten to see in person, Poirier is a dynamic offensive player. Scrappy on the forecheck, physical in possession, a powerful wrist shot, all packed into a 5’8 frame. To scouts, that frame might be too small, but there is too much to like to let something like that ruin the player. If his skating gets refined and adds some more defense to his game, Poirier could be a legit player.

Jayden Perron, RW - Imagine Justin Poirier but instead of the wicked shot, you have elite playmaking. Hey look, you created Jayden Perron. But seriously, Perron has very good passing ability and the skating is finally catching up. From what I saw in camp, he has started to hedge toward the middle of the ice with a lot of success, which is very good to see. Perron has a high potential, which he can hit if he refines the higher end aspects of his game.

Alexander Rykov, RW - Rykov is such an interesting player. Almost a point per game player at the VHL level, the second highest level in Russia. 6 goals in 29 games at the KHL level, which is respectable. He’s a fun forechecker, can make plays in small areas, and he can lead a rush chance or two now and then. He’s a very solid player, the issue being that he’s not a high-end player. Rykov is such an well-rounded player, but the lack of higher-end skills limits the potential. He’s still a good player, though.

Gleb Trikozov, LW - As true of a 50-foot player as you could imagine, Gleb is a menace offensively. He’s deceptive while passing when he needs to, his shot is lethal and his skating compliments all of it. He isn’t overly physical and the other 150 feet of his game still needs some polish, but one good year with Cam Abbott in Chicago should help this out tremendously.

Oskar Vuollet, LW/C - Watching Oskar Vuollet is something fun. He’s downright enjoyable to watch. To prove my point, in the 2023/24 playoffs for AIK J20, he played 9 games. In those 9 games, he had 14 GOALS and 7 ASSISTS FOR 21 POINTS. He came in second only to his linemate. His perimeter play is electric, being able to create almost out of nothing. His passing and his shot are both plus attributes. If there is just one thing that I would ask of him, please just start going to the middle more. He loves the perimeter a little too much.

Dominik Badinka, RHD/LHD - Badinka was one of two prospects that I was on the fence about including in tier 2, Artamonov being the other. It’s impressive that Badinka basically skipped the J20 Nationell and went straight to the SHL, playing almost double the games with Malmo at the SHL level. His defense really stood out, using a high hockey IQ to anticipate plays while his offense took a step back. If the offense can start to show up more, he’s going to be something.

Joel Nystrom, RHD - Two-way monster. Nystrom leads a power play unit for Farjestad, as well as being a primary penalty killer. He produced at a .5+ PPG rate, which is still shocking for me to see. He earned a contract with the Hurricanes and he has a sneaky chance at being a NHL defenseman due to his 200-foot play sooner than some think.

Charles-Alexis Legault, RHD - Talk about exponential growth, huh? Legault has grown into a full blown either middle pairing/high end bottom pairing guy since arriving at Quinnipiac. The defense, which is still his best attributed, continued to shine through on a good team. The offense FINALLY arrived in the latter portion of his sophomore year, going on a 7 game point streak with only 2 of those games being single point games. If he continues the path he is on, Legault won’t have to wait long to see NHL minutes on a consistent basis.

Timur Kol, LHD - A young Russian defenseman? Plays for SKA? Stands at 6’4? Also planning on leaving when his contract is up? This resemblance is uncanny (it’s not). Kol has a lot to like about his game though. Offensively, he makes smart decisions with the puck and uses a lot of feints in his game to create space. Defensively, he uses his reach to jar the puck loose and well, hit the snot out of people (not at Nikishin’s level). He needs to continue to show these developments at the top level, but it might be a little rough since he plays in such a strong organization (for now).

Vladimir Grudinin, LHD - Hey look, another defenseman taking a monumental leap in development. Grudinin has flourished in his new roles with Severstal, playing on a power play as well as the top penalty kill unit. His defense is the better aspect of his game but his offense, especially his breakout passes, can keep him afloat in a tougher league. The perfect guy you want playing on the left side in most roles.

Simon Forsmark, LHD - I know it’s weird to put Forsmark here, especially because I honestly don’t talk about him a lot. But realistically, I don’t have to. Forsmark’s offense is solid with nothing specific to write home about. His defense is stand out. He makes calm decisions quickly, he skates himself out of issues, and he’s not afraid to use his sturdy 6’2 frame. He consistently plays 18 minutes a night for Timra and he’s earned those minutes.

Noel Fransen, LHD - During the summer U20 Sweden games, Fransen was consistently Sweden’s top defenseman and it wasn’t hard to see why. He was generating offense at 5v5 and on the power play, where his skating and passing were on full display. He’s dominated the J20 Nationell level in 2023/24, producing 44 points in 45 games which made him the top point getting defenseman. Fransen should play more than a few games at the SHL level for Farjested, where he will also get the chance to run a power play. He’s got true number 1 power play QB potential.

Tier 4 time!

Tier 4 - Bottom 6/Bottom pairing player

Justin Robidas, C - What a start to his professional career. Nearly a point per game player with the Norfolk Admirals before going down with an injury and not coming back for the rest of the year. Robidas is a certified dawg, always on the forecheck while also being incredibly good playmaking wise. He played on all special teams, contributing 7 goals on the power play and 1 goal on the penalty kill. Very intrigued to see what he does with the Wolves this season.

Ryan Suzuki, C - Injuries have taken a lot from Suzuki. The once dynamic center just hasn’t had a full season in a long time, only playing in 52 games last year. Now, there is still something within Suzuki, who saw consistent 2C, power play, and penalty kill minutes with the Springfield Thunderbirds last year. He needs a full NHL camp as well as a good AHL season to regain his mojo, but I believe in the kid.

Timur Mukhanov, LW/RW - A high motor, speedy winger, Mukhanov has spent a lot of time at the KHL level at just 19-years-old. For U19 scorers, Mukhanov ranked 7th, behind 2 former first round picks in Matvei Michkov and Daniil But (and Nikita Artamonov, too). Just needs to keep showing development but Mukhanov could be a nice 3rd or 4th line guy that gives you constant energy while chipping in the occasional goal.

Stanislav Yarovoy, RW/LW - We will save you, young man. I truly thought Yarovoy was dipping out of the KHL last year but ended up staying due to the coach Vityaz hired. He was rewarded with 10 minutes in his first KHL game. Yarovoy is a solid player, having 200-foot skill, but he just doesn’t get the room to show it. It’s weird to see a player go from playing 45 games in the KHL to 36 games played and splitting time between every single level of Russian hockey. At least he won the NMHL cup, though.

Aleksi Heimosalmi, RHD - I’d wager a lot of money to call Heimosalmi the best skater out of all Hurricanes prospects. He’s just so elegant and precise with his footwork, while also maintaining power in his stride. His two way game has come a long way from his draft year and he’s in line to play meaningful minutes for the Wolves this season.

Alexander Siryatsky, LHD - Going to start affectionately calling Siryatsky “The Stick” until he weighs more than 159 pounds. Siryatsky is a solid defensive defenseman, adept at mitigating risk. His skating really propels him to good lengths and I’m interest to see the offensive upside and how that continues to grow.

Roman Shokhrin, LHD - Shokhrin has some intrigue in his game. He’s gigantic (6’5) with shockingly smooth puck handling ability. He was used as a 4th line forward at times for Loko Yarslavl (both of them!) and has shown signs of offensive ability. His defense, right now, is a little one dimensional. That being that his poke is effective but he overly relies on it. Lots to like, but I need to see more. I do wonder where he is going to play this year after his contract was randomly removed from the KHL/VHL website, while also not being listed on any Lokomotiv roster for this season.

Tier 5: Fringe NHL player

Fyodor Avramov, LW - I might be a sucker for a 6’3 forward who uses his body to his advantage while also producing at a near PPG on, for lack of better words, a god awful MHL team in Kapitan Stupino. Avramov should make his KHL debut and I would be shocked if he didn’t spend most of the time with HC Sochi this year.

Noel Gunler, RW - Very good offensive player. He got absolutely horked last year with the AHL situation and Karpat just not playing him and then a trade out getting denied/falling through (I’m not entirely sure which one). One good season with the Wolves will have me believing again.

Anttoni Honka, RHD - I’ve called him the Finnish Tony Deangelo because they honestly play the exact same. Their offense is undeniable because it’s good, the other side of the game needs work. Honka has excelled in Liiga at running power plays while producing at a good rate 5v5. Through absolutely no fault of his own, he just hasn’t had a ton of time in North America to translate those skills. He had one season in the AHL, where he looked very adept at producing on the power play, but then of course the whole “not having an AHL affiliate” thing occurred and he lost a season of development. Not going to say this is a make or break year for the 23-year-old, but I would love to see Honka stick in North America this year.

Domenick Fensore, LHD - Fensore has immense value as a power play QB. His defense holds up stronger than others and his skating is mesmerizing, second best out of all prospects IMO. Producing at over a PPG at the ECHL level and nearly a .5 PPG rate in the AHL in his first professional season, there is a path to the NHL for Fensore if he keeps up with what he did last year. I know people will point out that he’s smaller for a defenseman, but watching his film has told me that he doesn’t play like he’s 5’8.

Ronan Seeley, LHD - It’s impossible to root against Seeley. From his heart condition to being on the top pair at the WJC with Owen Power and earning a professional contract as a 7th round pick. His defense is good, his skating is good, it’s really the offense that keeps him from being the whole package. With a loaded defense in Chicago, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see him spend some time at the ECHL level with the Bloomington Bison.

Tier 6: AHL All-star/Chance to play NHL games

Andrei Krutov, LW/RW - I think if Krutov plays enough games, you could make a Dennis Smith Jr or Tavon Austin level mixtape of all the defenders he makes look incredibly stupid. His mindset when he steps onto the ice is purely “я собираюсь выставить этих людей глупыми” (translate that). If he continues to grow the rest of his game, which I’ve seen glimpse of a nice forechecker, Krutov has the ability to move up the ranks.

Lucas Mercuri, C - Bash brother prototype. He’s big, physical, loves to play in front of the net and loves to hit. He’s stronger in the faceoff circle than any other Hurricanes prospect but the limits of high end skill might cap him. I do like his game a lot and wouldn’t be surprised if he plays over 200 games at the NHL level, teams love the style he brings.

Alexander Perevalov, LW - Perevalov openly admitted that he was rushed to KHL in 2022 and he spent the majority of last season on the bench with an injury that was pretty serious. He’s fully healthy now and seems to have a chip on his shoulder. The offense is interesting, showing strong skating and good stickhandling.

Michael Emerson, RW - During development camp, I noted that Emerson’s shot looked visibly faster and better. He’s dominated the USHL level and needs to show something with Merrimack, especially after only playing in 6 games with North Dakota before transferring. I like the player, think his skating is good mixed with the better shot, which is already good because it’s his best attribute.

Bryce Montgomery, RHD - For defenseman, Bryce Montgomery might have the cleanest hands. He’s made plays at the ECHL level that shock me because no man should be able to move like that with the puck on his stick at 6’4. Last year was his first professional season, getting in 42 games with the South Carolina Stingrays at the ECHL level. He’s under AHL contract with the Wolves now, where he will probably make his debut at some point during the season while getting big minutes with the Bloomington Bison in the ECHL.

Tier 7: Holding out hope

Alexander Pelevin, LHD - Complete honesty, Pelevin confuses me. He seemed like he had a strong route to the KHL, making his debut as an 18-year-old. But he’s seemed to kind of just falter, as he hasn’t sniffed the KHL since his debut. He was only getting around 11-12 minutes with Kurgan at the VHL level and was scratched in Torpedo-Gorky’s first VHL game this year. His defense is good though.

Nikita Gustlistov, C/LW - From being a consistent KHL played for Severstal, playing in 52 games in 2022/23 to just 26 in 2023/24, to being traded to Dinamo Minsk for playing time, Guslistov needed a fresh start. His offense is intriguing but he signed a contract extension with Minsk that extends through the end of the next KHL season, where he will be 24. Don’t really know what else to say, he’s an undersized forward with offensive intrigue but I’m not 100% sure he plays a game in North America.

This concludes the skater portion of the prospect pyramid

After 3,000 words, we can finally move on to talking about the goalie position. These tiers are going to be a little simpler:

Tier 1 - True number 1 starter

Tier 2 - Low end starter/1B/High end backup

Tier 3 - Backup

Tier 4 - Fringe NHL Goalie

Tier 5 - The “Yegor Naumov” tier

Let’s get into this

Tier 1 - True number 1 starter

None.

Look, I think Khazheyev is close to this tier. But truthfully, I don’t believe that there is a goalie in the pipeline that can be a true workhorse starter at the NHL level.

Tier 2 - Low end starter/1B/High end Backup

Ruslan Khazheyev - Don’t get me wrong though, Khazheyev is the number one goalie within the pipeline. He stands 6’4 and plays like Kochetkov. He’s hyper aggressive at the top of his crease while also having incredibly solid foundations. If he transitions his stats from the MHL (2.19 GAA and a .927% save percentage) to the AHL while getting maybe 30 starts for Chicago, I think he makes his NHL debut within the next 365 days.

Nikita Quapp - Any time I want to watch a goalie attempt a heroic performance, I think about those Germany vs Canada games at the WJC where Quapp was unreal. He kept Germany in those games for far longer than they were supposed to be. Quapp just needs consistent playing time at the top level of hockey, as he was a strong starter for Lausitzer Fuchse in the second tier of German hockey. If he gets consistent time, he’s got real NHL potential.

Tier 3 - Backup

Egor Velmakin - Everyone’s second favorite goalie just based on vibes (only second to PK), Velmakin has true intrigue. If he keeps his end of his truth to becoming the best goalie he can with Dinamo, which I believe he can just based off his preseason performances, Velmakin can be a nice backup and maybe low end starter at the NHL level. Hopefully he gets to come back over next year for camp and I can speak with him again, truly is a genuine soul.

Patrik Hamrla - Another absolute gem, Hamrla just needs a chance to play. He flashed his talent at the QMJHL level but just never really got any consistent time with Ilves and their affiliate in Finland. Maybe he can play for Bloomington this season, because Hamrla has real skill and size for the position.

Tier 4 - Fringe NHL Goalie

Jakub Vondras - Another rather large human being, standing at 6’4, Vondras is intriguing. He’s got good size and solid fundamentals, showing that in the bronze medal WJC game from this past season, but his stats from this past OHL season are not entirely encouraging. Heading back to the Czech Republic this season, I’m hoping that Vondras has a great season and comes back to North America better than ever.

Tier 5 - The “Yegor Naumov” tier

Yegor Naumov - Look, the only thing I care about for Naumov is that he gets fully healthy and can lace them up again. He had 2 years of his hockey career taken away from him due to injury and finally got back to playing last season at the NMHL level. I just want the kid healthy and if he finds a spot to play, I’ll be happy for him.