Top 5 Prospects of the Month: November 2025
A runaway winner
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.
The footer is correct, as there is a runaway winner and a NEW heavyweight prospect of the month. This guy, who I’ve talked about more in the past 2-3 weeks than I probably did all of last year, has been a revelation so far for his team, becoming their best player. Enough of the teasing, let’s dive into the honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Kurban Limatov (18), D (MHK Dynamo Moscow, MHL): 5 games, 0 goals, 5 assists, 5 points
Justin Poirier (19), W (Maine, NCAA): 7 games, 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points
Justin Robidas (22), C/RW (Chicago Wolves/Carolina Hurricanes, AHL/NHL): 12 GP, 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points
Jakub Vondras (21), G (HC Dynamo Pardubice B, Czechia2): 3 GP, .925% save percentage, 2.00 Goals Against Average
Can I say that it’s electric that Justin Poirier just turned 19 two months ago? For some reason, my brain kept telling me he was already 20. Seeing Justin Robidas get some NHL game time again this year is nice, but I was slightly confused at him being listed as a center when he hadn’t really done that for the Wolves at all this season. Haven’t talked about Jakub Vondras in a long time, so it’s nice to see him get a nice stretch of games in. Kurban Limatov has stepped up big time in the absence of Timur Kol for MHK Dynamo Moscow and has looked great. Laughed when he went to celebrate a goal with his teammates and he towered above every single one of them. Now, into the meat of it all, the Top 5.
5. Filip Ekberg, RW (Ottawa 67s, OHL)
Don’t make any sort of joke whatsoever about the team name. It feels like they’ve had the most “Education Day” games and I’ve had more than enough of my share of both kids screaming after a Ottawa goal AND the celebration that follows.
About Ekberg, he’s just a fun player to watch. Super creative with the puck on his stick and it kinda sucks that a majority of his points are “fake/unethical points”, those being secondary assists. They all count the same and Ekberg had a good November after battling illness throughout the month of October. In 8 games played, he had 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. If you have questions or comments, or maybe even concerns, about his placement on the list, might I remind everyone of the “Justin Poirier rule” which exists for the CHL leagues.
4. Yegor Velmakin, G (Dynamo St. Petersburg, VHL)
We might be so unbelievably back. Sometimes, all a goalie needs is a new scenery to rediscover their love for the game and find excellent form. This is exactly what has happened with Velmakin, who is enjoying a nice stretch of games while also being close to reaching his KHL game total from last year in December. Hell yeah, man.
In 4 starts in November, Velmakin posted a .932% save percentage and a 2.00 Goals Against Average. As someone who watched at least 2 of these starts, Velmakin is the middle ground chaotic Russian goalie that most Canes fans have become accustomed to over the years. He’s aggressive in the crease, normally hanging out towards the top of his area. Big fan of the way he attacks pucks instead of just sitting back and waiting for them. Overall, he’s becoming much more consistent in his good starts and not letting in the occasional dumb goal or two.
3. Bradly Nadeau, LW (Chicago Wolves/Carolina Hurricanes, AHL/NHL)
Is this slight bias? No, not at all. Nadeau is 3rd because he had a good month, despite getting called up and being used as a 4th line grinder for a few games. When the Wolves play their top line of Nadeau-Suzuki-FUS, it’s electric due to the skill they have. It also benefits Nadeau greatly because Suzuki and FUS are both playmakers, while Nadeau is the only shooter. In 13 games played between the Wolves and Hurricanes, he had 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points.
The power play strategy of the Wolves being “pass it around between 4 people and try and get Nadeau open” sometimes doesn’t work and just look, well, like the NHL team’s power play. Something Nadeau figured out on Saturday during a game with the Manitoba Moose is that every power play shot doesn’t need to be a one timer.
He decided to wait a second and move into the slot instead of just ripping a one timer, which led to a better shooting lane. Mainly because the defender thought he was just going to shoot and stumbled a bit getting back to his feet. He still ripped a crazy looking shot, but the move made it easier to get the shot off. It’s the little things that show improvement sometimes.
2. Jayden Perron, RW (Michigan, NCAA)
Back to back months in the top 5 for Perron, who seems to be on the right developmental path with Michigan. He’s been a top line forward throughout the season, which is definitely a nice change for him. In 9 games, Perron had 1 goal and 8 assists for 9 points.
The constant with Perron this year has been consistency, as he’s only been held without a point in 5 out of 18 games, something that has been missing in his game over the past two years. Again, the biggest thing that sticks out to me is the playmaking. Perron is able to use his skating to gain leverage on defenders and has enough skill within his game to make tough passes seem easy. I still wonder on if he gets a look for an entry level contract after the season.
1. Felix Unger Sorum, RW (Chicago Wolves, AHL)
The newest heavyweight prospect of the month, Felix has been unreal for the Wolves since the start of the year. For a team who has been decimated by callups and injuries and a secret third thing, Felix has been their most consistent forward. I’d even go as far to argue he’s been their best player over the course of the year. In 13 games played in November, he had 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points, a perfect 1 point per game.
The leap that Felix has taken this season has been immense, becoming a much more complete offensive player overall while rounding out some physical aspects to become harder to contain. He still needs to gain weight, not as desperately as last year, but watching him has become a treat. Whether it’s carrying the puck in transition, making crazy passes look simple on the power play, or FINALLY getting to the front of the net, he’s just able to do it and have good success with it. He looks a half step quicker as well, something that makes him even more attractive when it comes to skill player call ups. Everything is looking up for young Felix, who looks more and more like a potential impact NHL forward with each passing game.