Hurricanes Prospect Positional Rankings: Left Handed Defenseman

Another new number 1!

Welcome BACK to the series that will take up some downtime during the summer. I will go through the Carolina Hurricanes prospect farm, pick out a position group, and update everyone on these players. These updates will consist of how they played this past season, what strengths and weaknesses are in their game, and a projected (if there is one) NHL timeline. These lists will also be a ranking of the position as well, with players listed higher being the guys closer to the NHL and with more potential. Today, we’ll focus on left handed defenseman and crown a new number 1 guy!

With the graduation of Alexander Nikishin, it creates the void at the top spot, both in the prospect pool as a whole and, more importantly for today, left handed defenseman. In complete honesty, not one guy is truly separating himself in terms of talent, which is something that I fully expect to change over the course of the season. So grab a snack and relax, as there are 9 players in this ranking so it’ll be a long one.

(It would’ve been 10 but after further review, Domenick Fensore has graduated prospect status as he will turn 24 this year).

1. Kurban Limatov, 18 (MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL)

The most recent LHD drafted becomes the number one guy at the position. It was tough between Kurban and the guys at 2 and 3, but I lean Limatov because of just how good he was last year. A truly dynamic skater, who moves with speed and purpose at 6’4 who has a great two way game who is only 18 is something to behold.

Limatov is awesome. His skating is some of the best in the prospect pool and he’s another “minutes eater”, someone who plays in all situations and plays a lot. His aggressive play style on both ends can create offense or force a turnover, but it has also got him in trouble more than once. If he can reign in that style a little bit, but continue to play like he can, he has true top 4 potential. It’s rare to get a player with his size, skating ability, and hockey sense in the third round.

Outlook for 2025/26: This one is a little confusing. He’s projected as the 7th defenseman for Dynamo Moscow at the KHL, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he had a season like Timur Kol last year, splitting time between KHL and MHL.

2. Timur Kol, 18 (Dynamo St. Petersburg, VHL)

One of the most improved prospects in the pool over the last calendar year, Kol turned in an insanely impressive D+1 season, spending the season splitting time between the KHL roster for SKA St. Peterburg and being the number 1 defenseman for MHL side SKA-1946. He didn’t see a ton of time with the KHL roster actually playing, but when he was with the MHL team, he was used heavily, averaging 24:20! TOI. Genuinely insane stuff.

Kol excels defensively, being able to shutdown players with his physicality and impressive reach. He’s able to use his hockey sense to sniff out plays happening before they happen and break them up. There’s more offensive upside than what he showed this season as well, as the time spent as a 7th defenseman didn’t allow him to showcase his offensive skills to their potential as often as one would like. But he quarterbacked the second power play unit for SKA-1946 and has some real finesse in his hands. He was also named the best defenseman in the MHL final, a series that his team lost. There is a LOT to like about Timur Kol.

Outlook for 2025/26: After being traded to Dynamo Moscow, I’d expect him to be a mainstay in the VHL team, Dynamo St. Petersburg. Confusing, yes I know.

3. Vladimir Grudinin, 21 (Severstal, KHL)

I heavily debated putting Grudinin at 1, but settled on throwing him at 3 due to Limatov and Kol having *arguably* higher potentials. But don’t be mistaken, I still like Grudinin’s chances to play NHL games in the future due to just how good he is defensively.

When I talk about Grudinin, I like to imagine a scene from Moneyball, where Peter is talking about a different way to view value in baseball players to Billy.

If Grudinin was about 3 inches taller, he would’ve been the top guy without question. But because he’s sub 6 foot and plays a more defensive game, he’s not viewed as highly. But that height shouldn’t scare anyone because if that was the case, he wouldn’t have played over 150 KHL games before turning 22. As well, he’s been a top 4 defender for Severstal for the past 3 years, playing on both his natural side and his off side, something that wouldn’t happen if his height was a concern. He has true four way mobility and the smarts to break up plays. He’s not overtly physical, but his stick work generally makes up for that. His offense is solid, with his passing ability really standing out. He’s helped run the second power play unit at times and doesn’t look a lick out of place. Again, if he’s listed at 6’2 instead, he’s the top guy.

Outlook for 2025/26: Another year playing top 4 minutes for Severstal.

4. Simon Forsmark, 21 (Timra IK, SHL)

Is it wrong if I call Simon Forsmark the Swedish Grudinin? He’s played well over 150 SHL games, has a good skating base, and a solid two way game. The difference is that Forsmark is 6’2, and Swedish, and he played more 3rd pairing minutes last year than top 4. But he’s also been used on his off side a ton, which has helped him move up the lineup at times.

As mentioned above, Forsmark is a good two way defenseman. He’s got solid offensive traits, led by his puck moving ability, and solid defensive traits led by his positioning and skating ability. While he is 6’2, he’s not a super physical guy. He’ll pin someone along the boards but won’t just outright flatten someone. His stick positioning and IQ leads him to being a solid player to rely on when you need to protect a lead. His offense is decent, as he’s been able to improve his SHL scoring output every year since 2022/23. I’m interested to see what happens with him going into this season in terms of an entry level contract. He made Swedish hockey headlines saying that he was close to signing his ELC but nothing came of it and his rights expire on June 1st, 2026.

Outlook for 2025/26: An important defenseman for Timra IK.

5. Noel Fransen, 19 (Farjestad BK, SHL)

This was a successful season for Fransen in my opinion. He was the third highest U20 scorer in the league, only behind 2 top 16 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft in Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell. He played a good amount, even with funky usage over the course of the year (high of 30:59, low of 1:59). He made his SHL playoff debut and suited up in 3 games. In my books, that’s a successful DY+1.

Fransen is very much offensively minded. He’s a super strong puck mover, being able to make passes all across the ice. His shot is ok, but nothing over the top special. His skating is great, really using his mobility to manipulate defenders at the blue line and make good plays. His defense needs work, but if the offense continues to grow, Fransen is going to be a fun player to watch.

Outlook for 2025/26: He’s going to push really hard for a full time SHL spot, but I wouldn’t rule out a loan to a HockeyAllsvenskan team.

6. Ronan Seeley, 22 (Chicago Wolves, AHL)

Seeley is such a cool story. A 7th round pick in 2020, he was the captain of an Everett Silvertips team in 2021/22 that had multiple NHL drafted prospects on their roster, including Olen Zellweger. He also has overcome an aortic aneurysm to become a consistent defensive anchor at the AHL level. He also played on the top pairing for Team Canada in the 2021/22 World Juniors next to former number 1 overall pick Owen Power.

Seeley, as mentioned above, is a defensive defenseman through and through. He’s decently physical, but is super smart. He’s able to break up plays with his stick and make the good play out of the zone. He was able to reign in Scott Morrow for a while and make them a good AHL pair for a long time. His skating is good and there might a touch more offensive potential in his game. A really solid defenseman who will probably play NHL games eventually.

Outlook for 2025/26: A good piece for the Wolves blueline.

7a. Alexander Siryatsky, 18 (Magnitka, VHL)

A TIE? IN THIS ECONOMY? Yes, this is a little weird, but I truly don’t see a definitive enough difference between Siryatsky and the next guy to justify ranking one higher than the other, seeing as they are relatively the same archetype of player. Back to Siryatsky, he’s sick. Him, Kol, and the player at 7b were all relatively the same guy. A big, physical, great skating defenseman that could play good defense and has some more offensive potential to unlock.

Siryatsky fought his way up the Russian hockey totem pole this year, starting the year in the MHL, but ending the season as a top 4 defenseman at the VHL level due to his play. He’s a calm, steady defensive presence that is able to be the anchor on a pairing. He’s a physical specimen, being 6’4 and 183 pounds, and is able to use every inch of his length to make the right plays. There seems to be more potential in his offensive game, as he’s been solid in making breakout passes and having good timing with pinches. A lot to like from the young defenseman.

Outlook for 2025/26: A full year with Magnitka in the VHL. Maybe he plays a couple games at the KHL level as well.

7b. Roman Shokhrin, 19 (Loko Yaroslavl, MHL)

Guys you won’t believe it, but Shokhrin is a 6’4+ LHD that skates really well and plays good defense. Crazy, I know, but it’s true! When Darren Yorke and Eric Tulsky talked about how the modern day defenseman has become one that is adept at taking away time and space, they really weren’t lying and, honestly, started to take those types last year.

Shokhrin, a forward at times in his draft year, is another good skating, physical defenseman that can do what needs to be done. He’s helped run the power play at times for both Loko-76 and Loko Yaroslavl, he’s helped on the penalty kill at times for both teams, he’s done it all. His hockey sense isn’t entirely high, as he relies on his physical abilities to bail him out more often than not, but that’s something that can hopefully develop over time. He’s got a super heavy shot that he’s able to get on net from the blueline more often than not. Again, a lot of interesting tools in Shokhrin.

Outlook for 2025/26: Playing with Loko Yaroslavl at the MHL level. I also would wager that he could make his KHL debut this year.

9. Alexander Pelevin, 21 (Torpedo-Gorky, VHL)

Nothing against Pelevin, who has a role in his own right, but he takes up the caboose here. He’s a guy that probably should be playing KHL games right now but hasn’t truly broken through. He’s found a solid role in the VHL, being a third pair hyper physical defenseman that’ll run through someone.

Offensively, um, he put up 12 points in 48 regular season games. Nothing really stands out there but his value comes from his physical, defensive game. If you go towards the boards against Pelevin, you will be sore tomorrow. He doesn’t have the highlight reel level hits that someone like Alexander Nikishin has, but he holds his own. His skating is okay and he’s a decent defenseman. But due to the other guys in this specific area of the pool, it’s harder to justify him ahead of anyone else. But you know what, he won the VHL championship last season so that’s great.

Outlook for 2025/26: Another year in the VHL with Torpedo-Gorky.