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.
Feels great to be back, both to writing and with the Top 5 Prospects of the Month series. Haven’t really touched the site in about a month (barring 1 Developing Hurricanes episode and a note) and this series stopped in March so it’s nice to return. A special thanks needs to go to Matt for doing some prospect writing during my absence, much appreciated.
Without further ado, let’s dive into some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Alexander Pelevin, D (Torpedo-Gorky, VHL)
Stats: 7 GP, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points
The early season VHL shock of the season for me, Pelevin has been good! He missed the first part of the season with injury (I think, don’t quote me) and once he returned, he’s looked good. The offense came through in two games, where the 3 points came from, but Pelevin has been normal Pelevin outside of that, a steady defensive defenseman who loves to use his God given size to his advantage.
Charles Alexis Legault, D (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
Stats: 4 GP, 1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point
Eye test puck knowers and avid readers and listeners of Matt and myself know that we really, really like Charles Alexis Legault’s (no more hyphen) NHL potential. He’s a no nonsense, steady defensive defenseman. His skating a big plus combined with his large frame and willingness to get down and dirty. He’s a physical presence, using his body to make sure the attacker either doesn’t get past him or loses the puck. If the NHL defense has an opening on the blue line on night 1, Legault has put himself in consideration for the opportunity. (UPDATE: well, he’s sticking around a little longer in camp, which is nice to see)
Joel Nystrom, D (Carolina Hurricanes NHL)
Stats: 4 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points
After watching the Prospect Showcase, I was a little nervous about Nystrom’s translation to North America. The skating ability that shined during his time with Farjestad didn’t really come through the way I thought it should’ve. But the preseason calmed those worries as Nystrom put together a really solid 4 games. The skating seemed to pick up over time and he was consistently making the smart play, while also making hero defensive plays more than once. He also used some physicality to separate player from the puck a couple times, something pretty hard to do for a player who stands 5’11 (I somehow mixed up numbers for him and Fensore) and 170 pounds. All in all, a really nice preseason with the NHL team should have him positioned well to help the Chicago Wolves take another step this season.
Yegor Velmakin, G (Dynamo St. Petersburg, VHL)
Stats: 4 GP, 2.69 GAA, .917% save percentage
He’s finally escaped Dinamo Minsk purgatory (joking, Minsk was a good place for him, he just never got playing time). One of those games was coming in relief for the normal starter, where he went 5/5. 2 of those games he faced 42 and 38 shots respectively, giving up 4 goals in each. Then, a breakthrough start of sorts. 25/26 saves in a 4-1 win against Torpedo-Gorky. He had one kinda dumb moment, but redeemed the dumb moment by making one unbelievable save and then one good save.
Love you Yegor but PLEASE relax in net.
Now, let’s work on that top 5!
5. Fyodor Avramov, W/C (Kapitan, MHL)
Stats: 7 GP, 6 goals, 4 assists, 10 points
Hey look, I get to use the “Justin Poirier rule” again. As a reminder, the Justin Poirier rule was a something that I created to get you all to understand that 1+ PPG in the QMJHL isn’t the same as .8+ PPG in the AHL/KHL/VHL. Here, since Kapitan is in the Silver Division of the MHL, the rule comes into effect again. Now, let me rant.
WHY, and let me really stress this, W H Y is Avramov playing in a league he has zero reason to play in. He proved in his draft year that he’s probably ready for a tougher challenge! He had 44 points in 49 games in the MHL during his draft year! That led his team by 15 points! This year he’s looked the same as he has over the past two years in the MHL. Last year, he was genuinely challenged while playing in the VHL, making him learn as a player to better apply his skillset in a higher league. But noooooooo, he just has to be the captain of a MHL team where he’s being one of their only offensive threats while also getting absolutely zero playing time with the KHL team as the 13th forward.
Ok rant over, Avramov was good this month. Because of the Silver Division MHL team, he has the Poirier rule applied.
4. Semyon Frolov, G (MHK Spartak Moscow, MHL)
Stats: 4 GP, 1.56 GAA, .932% save percentage
When the Canes drafted Semyon Frolov, I was overjoyed. They desperately needed another good goalie prospect and the early returns are very, very promising. He’s looked really good in his first 4 starts and even posted a really good game against Kapitan Stupino on October 1st, making 37/38 saves in a 5-1 win.
Frolov is awesome. He’s got the Pyotr Kochetkov ability to just be way, way too far out of the net at times (including one where he was damn near taking a faceoff during play in his own zone) but his technical ability is, in my opinion, better than where PK was at this point in his career. He’s got the combination of good/great athleticism combined with already solid technical work in goal. There’s a lot to like from Frolov and his hard work was rewarded with a really good start to his season.
3. Alexander Perevalov, W (Metallurg Novokuznetsk, VHL)
Stats: 9 GP, 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points
My one complaint when the season started when it came to Perevalov was that he wasn’t consistent. He went 2 games without a point, then 2 goals in 1 game, then 2 games without a point. But then, a 4 game point streak where almost every single point was primary.
Perevalov’s career resurgence with the best team in the VHL (right now, anyways) has been awesome to watch. His shot is lethal and he always finds himself in the right spot for a rebound or to be open. On the power play, he’s being used either down low or netfront, and the 6' foot, 194 pound winger is especially good at being netfront. His playmaking is continuing to make strides and there comes a time where there might be some thinking about whether this can apply to North America. As was noted on the public forum, X the everything app (it’s Twitter, this is just funnier to me), this is the last year remaining on his current contract. Not saying anything, but if he keeps this form up, I wonder if some speculation starts.
2. Bradly Nadeau, W (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
Stats: 5 GP, 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points
Let’s start with a healthy, positive discussion. Stating the obvious, Bradly Nadeau had an excellent preseason outside of one game against Tampa where he turned the puck over in his own zone with less than 10 seconds left in the period which led to the opening goal. Outside of that game, Nadeau was great. He looked really sharp on a line with Kotkaniemi and Svechnikov and looked good with a litany of other linemates, including the smaller all righty line with Stankoven and Blake. His shot is more than NHL ready, his skating is good enough, his playmaking has taken steps.
But this is where the healthy discussion comes in because there were a good amount of times where he didn’t look great at 5v5. I think his adaptation to the “Carolina brand of hockey” got better the more games he played, but he needs to continue fine tuning that even strength game to become a more complete NHL player. As well, what’s the purpose of him getting 9 or less minutes a night at the NHL level (with sparing power play 2 minutes) with Mark Jankowski and Eric Robinson as his linemates? To me, it makes much more sense to send him to Chicago, give him exactly what to work on and let him work on it getting 18-20 minutes a night. If a top 6 player goes out with injury, I think he’d be high on the list to be called up.
But yes, Nadeau had a great preseason. This is the most complete he’s looked as a player since signing his entry level contract, but there’s another level to his game that he hasn’t unlocked yet.
1. Timur Kol, D (MHK Dynamo Moscow, MHL)
Stats: 9 GP, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points
You’re telling me that a 6’4 left handed defenseman with a booming shot, good playmaking abilities while leading a power play, and steady defensive abilities eats heavy minutes for a team in Russia? Is he the next Nikis- (a piano conveniently falls on top of my head)?
In all seriousness, no, Kol isn’t the next Nikishin. The similarities are insane, from physical stature to on ice abilities, but I don’t see it. That’s not a downplay on Timur Kol, who has been otherworldly to start his season. If there was one weakness in Kol’s game, it was his offensive capability. He wasn’t producing at the level he could’ve been (or maybe should’ve been). This year, he took that feedback seriously, turning into an offensive weapon. Biggest thing to me is that he’s making the play he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, make last year. He’s using his skating to generate that fraction of second more to see if someone can get open. On the power play, he’s freely moving around to try and create confusion amongst penalty killers. It’s a vast improvement over last year, which is great to see from the MHL final’s Defender of the Series. Here’s hoping that he gets a VHL or KHL call up sometime soon, but I’m not complaining if he doesn’t.