Top 5 Prospects of the Month: March 2026
Last one for the year
Welcome back to everyone’s favorite series on the internet, where I go over what Carolina Hurricanes prospects had the best month in terms of production and give everyone those updates. As a reminder, this is not a list of where they rank amongst prospects. This is just for the given month.
What a season it’s been. Just like last year, I’m going to tally up who’s been in the Top 5 to see who’s been making noise over the course of the year, even though I have a feeling I know who’s going to be at the top. With that said, let’s get into the honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Filip Ekberg, RW (Ottawa 67s, OHL): 13 GP, 6 goals, 4 assists, 10 points
Andrei Krutov, RW/C (Amur, KHL): 9 GP, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points
Viggo Nordlund, LW/RW (IK Oskarshamn, HockeyAllsvenskan): 9 GP, 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points
Alexander Perevalov, LW/RW (Metallurg Novokuznetsk, VHL): 9 GP, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points
Ekberg has been Ekberg. He’s a really solid piece of Ottawa’s offense but has been known to have a dry spell or two. If he stays with Ottawa through his DY+2 (I doubt he leaves, but I also doubted Justin Poirier would leave Drakkar), would love to see a big jump in production. Krutov might have some slight favoritism from me, but he became a top 6 player for Amur on a playoff push while playing a position he wasn’t familiar with. I’ve said it before but I’d like to see him stay at center until it doesn’t work, a la Felix Unger Sorum. Nordlund had a really nice season in Sweden’s 2nd tier league, wondering if he sticks with Skelleftea in the SHL next year or goes out on loan again. Perevalov has been really solid this year, 6 foot guy with good skill while being a netfront power play presence.
5. Justin Robidas, RW/C (Chicago Wolves, AHL)
Stats: 11 GP, 0 goals, 8 assists, 8 points
Even though he’s currently injured (get better soon), “Robi” had a great month, being one of Chicago’s main playmakers with Bradly Nadeau out with injury. I’ll say it once, I’ll say it a million times, Justin Robidas will be a long time NHL player. He’s playing in every situation at a pretty high level, he can play center if needed, he’s a smart player, he’s a good playmaker, and more importantly, he’s a great dude. Robidas is complete package and I’m hoping he gets fully healthy in time for the Wolves’ playoff run in a few weeks.
4. Stanislav Yarovoy, W (Khimik, VHL)
Stats: 10 GP, 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points
In hockey, there is such a term called the “16 game player.” A 16 game player is someone who’s game elevates when it’s playoff time. Their game takes the next step when 16 wins will win the big one. In terms of the VHL playoffs, Stanislav Yarovoy is a 16 game player. In Khimik’s 4-1 series win in the first round of the playoffs, he had 8 points in 5 games and it’s not hyperbole to say that he was Khimik’s best offensive player. He was electric, being able to weave in and out of traffic both in transition and in the offensive zone. It didn’t flash a ton during the regular season, but his skill is unreal.
3. Felix Unger Sorum, RW (Chicago Wolves, AHL)
Stats: 14 GP, 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points
I was watching a Wolves game recently and realized just how improved Felix has been this season. He’s handling contact so much better, able to shield the puck with defenseman draped over him much more successfully now. The playmaking has gotten better, as his creativity is at it’s best when he has the puck on his stick. It’s not hyperbole to say he’s one of the best playmakers within the Canes system, including NHL guys. His skating has improved as well. He’s almost an entirely new player, a different version of the 20 point AHL guy last year. Felix Unger Sorum is in line for his NHL debut at some point in the next 2 weeks, I have no doubts about it.
2. Jayden Perron, RW (Michigan, NCAA)
Stats: 5 GP. 4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points
Turns out, transferring schools for a new opportunity is a good idea in certain situations. Perron has been a totally new player for Michigan, going over a point per game production wise for the first time in his college career. The playmaking has really, really stood out during Michigan’s run to the Frozen Four, being able to connect plays together at a high rate while on the top line. Even more, leading the nation’s top power play as the quarterback is something you don’t see forwards do very often. I know people want to see him sign after his season is over, and I think there’s a chance it happens, but I wouldn’t be entirely shocked to see him head back to Michigan for his senior season.
1. Ivan Ryabkin, C (Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL)
Stats: 10 GP, 9 goals, 15 assists, 24 points
“Justin Poirier rule” be damned, that boy can hoop! Ivan Ryabkin has been part of a three headed dragon for Charlottetown over the past month that is almost incapable of not scoring. It feels like every single game Ryabkin has 2 or more points, because that’s what happens. Fun stat: Ivan Ryabkin has played 20 games in the QMJHL. He has 2 or more points in 13 of them. He has 3 or more points in 9 of those 20 games. His point pace if he played the entire season in the Q was 134 points. Now, would he have played in all 64 games? Absolutely not. As we’ve all seen with Ryabkin, the want and desire to be a pest and a “goon” drives him sometimes, so I’d bet money that he would’ve been suspended at some point. Hell, he already got suspended in the playoffs for “abuse of officials”. But the undeniables about Ryabkin are his talent, the hockey sense, and the roughhousing/physical playstyle.
As promised, here’s the tally of who made the Top 5 lists throughout the year. Note that we only count a top 5 appearance, not an honorable mention.
5 Times: Bradly Nadeau, Felix Unger Sorum
4 Times: Jayden Perron, Justin Robidas
3 Times: Nobody
2 Times: Yegor Velmakin, Jakub Vondras, Ivan Ryabkin, Justin Poirier
1 Time: Semyon Frolov, Ruslan Khazheyev, Fyodor Avramov, Charlie Cerrato, Filip Ekberg, Timur Kol, Viggo Nordlund, Alexander Perevalov, Stanislav Yarovoy