Hurricanes Prospects Positional Rankings: Center

Also, an awful explanation of what DAWG/60 means

Welcome BACK to the series that will take up some downtime in the summer. I will go through the Carolina Hurricanes prospect pool, 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. After all that, we will be starting with centers and boy oh boy, this group is still weak.

I mean, they did their best to correct some of the issues, taking Charlie Cerrato and Ivan Ryabkin, who may or may not stick at the center in the NHL (Cerrato has a much better chance to). But even then, the center position in the pool is still weak, with their only being 3! players here! You might ask “well, what about Ryan Suzuki and Nikita Guslistov?” The answer is Suzuki is 24 and Guslistov is 23 (going into age 24 season), which means they both age out of the system. So, this ranking should be short and sweet.

1. Ivan Ryabkin, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Last year’s stats (across 4 different levels of hockey and 2 continents): 52 GP, 20 goals, 24 assists, 44 points. Playoffs (all USHL): 14 GP, 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points

Before I begin to explain the multitudes to understanding Ivan Ryabkin, I first must explain the current team. Before he was drafted, I thought he would stay with Muskegon. Then, he was drafted in the QMJHL import draft by Charlottetown and heard that he could play there. Then Cam Robinson tweeted that he might get a look at the AHL level. He also worded it like the QMJHL option isn’t as likely anymore (which if we take a moment to remember the kind words of the Drakkar GM after Justin Poirier left, it makes a little more sense). So I’m going with the AHL option, because his physicality and skating isn’t that far off from being AHL caliber.

Ivan Ryabkin is a case study. You can watch 5 mins of his ice time and see a true game changing talent offensively. He has a wicked release, using immense power to just blow shots past goalies. He’s able to take time and space and make it work for him. He can make the insane pass. But then you watch another 5 mins and see a player that chases hits, isn’t the fastest skater, and who might have an invisible shift or two. My opinion, the effort concerns and character concerns are over exaggerated. Bottom line, Ryabkin is a polarizing prospect in the eyes of some. In the eyes of the Hurricanes, he’s a potential top 6 talent that fell to the second round.

Outlook for 2025/26: Well, thankfully I post on Saturdays. With him signing his ELC, I’d imagine he’s getting a good look at the AHL level this year.

2. Charlie Cerrato, Penn State (NCAA)

Last season’s stats: 38 GP, 15 goals, 27 assists, 42 points

Charlie “Dawg” Cerrato is one of the most enjoyable players to watch on ice and someone that will quickly endears himself to Canes fans due to his personality and his style of play. I’ve mentioned it a couple times during development camp but his DAWG/60, a stat that needs to be quantified and tracked, is off the charts.

I can try and describe what DAWG/60 means. It’s more of an eye test stat than a quantifiable stat because it’s easy to spot when a player has it. Seth Jarvis has great DAWG/60. Brayden Point has great DAWG/60. It’s a stat of what you do and how you do it. A certain level of intensity, finesse, skill, and “assholeness” in someone’s game. Cerrato has it, and a high level of it. He’s a much more natural center than Ryabkin but Ryabkin has more high end skill than Cerrato. But Cerrato, in his own right, has a good amount of skill. His skating compliments his hands extremely well. His defensive level is really good for where he is at in his development. He’s super well rounded and much closer to the NHL than others, as one more good year in Happy Valley could have him playing professional hockey sooner rather than later.

Outlook for 2025/26: A top 6 center and an important piece for Penn State.

3. Justin Robidas, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Last season’s stats: 72 GP, 21 goals, 36 assists, 57 points (Playoffs: 2 GP, 0 points)

This is probably insane because Robidas was just great in the AHL and really solid in his NHL debut and the game after. It’s also not a slam against Robidas, because he’s a guy that could also play a good amount of NHL games within the next few years. But Cerrato and Robidas have a better chance at staying at center in an elevated role, while Robidas might be a winger at the NHL. But at the AHL, he was a damn good center (and winger, but he spent more time at center).

Robidas also a good DAWG/60. He’s an extremely coachable player, as he did every single thing that Cam Abbott and the coaching staff asked of him. He played center, winger, up and down the lineup. He played power play in multiple different positions, he was an important penalty killer. He did it all and, even more, he excelled in every single role. He’s just so well rounded as a player, being able to play in all situations and contribute in a litany of ways, that it’s hard to imagine him not having a good NHL career in the future. He also falls in the Logan Stankoven camp of not letting his height be a detractor in his game.

Outlook for 2025/26: A top 6 forward for the Chicago Wolves.