Welcome back.

It’s time to kick off Daily Faceoff’s second annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Skaters over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re looking at the Carolina Hurricanes.

It’s got to feel good to be good.

Not only do the Hurricanes have one of the best teams in the NHL, even after some big offseason departures, but they’ve also got one of the best pipelines in the league, too. They’re double dipping, seriously.

The Hurricanes have drafted late in the first round in recent years, meaning they’ve had to shoot for value instead of just targeting bigger names. But they’ve continued to find success, with three of their top prospects – Bradly Nadeau, Scott Morrow and Jackson Blake – turning pro around the same time after great runs in college last year.

And then there’s Alexander Nikishin, who might be one of the best prospects in the game today. He’s still under contract in the KHL, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought him over after the season was over and had him potentially playing a big role for the club in 2025-26. You don’t find 6-foot-4 defenders with the offensive capabilities that he has often, and that wasn’t even a big part of his game before he was drafted.

When talking to scouts, many mention that the Hurricanes seem to continuously find value deeper in the draft each year. All that matters is if they can get NHL games out of those guys. Like any team, the Hurricanes have had their fair share of misses, but their ability to churn out quality prospects without picking early makes them a fun group to watch. This is an organization that will overlook obvious flaws and bet high on upside, and you love to see things like that.

Biggest Strength

The Hurricanes have solid skater depth as a whole, but they’re best on the wing. Nadeau and Blake already tasted NHL action, Felix Unger Sorum might be closer than many think, and Nikita Artamonov, Jayden Perron and Alexander Rykov all have NHL potential. The Hurricanes also have a handful of quality defenders, with Nikishin, Morrow and 2024 NHL Draft pick Dominik Badinka all looking like big pieces of the team’s future. At the very least, they’ve got enough depth in these areas to use as trade bait, but it’s also nice having them around.

Biggest Weakness

Just like last year, the Hurricanes are still lacking serious center depth. Ryan Suzuki might be the best right now, and he’s a borderline NHLer at best. I’m not sure what the future looks like for Justin Robidas, either. It’s not hard to find centers so maybe that’s just something they’ll explore other avenues for instead, but there’s a realistic chance that not a single center in the system today plays more than just a handful of games in the NHL.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Eric Tulsky
Dir. Amateur Scouting: N/A
Dir. of Player Development: N/A
AHL Affiliate: Chicago Wolves
ECHL Affiliate: N/A

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Alexander Nikishin, LHD, 22 (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 69th overall, third round in 2020

Will we finally see Nikishin in a Hurricanes uniform this spring? The 22-year-old is one of the best players outside of the NHL, having led KHL defensemen in scoring in consecutive years. When the 2022 Olympic silver medalist was drafted 69th overall, a lot of the talk was about how disengaged he often looked with the puck and that he struggled to adapt to a quicker pace. However, the move to SKA in 2022-23 seemed to unlock a totally different side to his game that was never present before, leading to a 43-point increase in production. Nikishin is a 6-foot-4 mobile blueliner who gives you little space to work with while playing important minutes for one of the KHL’s most prolific franchises – and as a young captain, too. I have full faith in Nikishin, who will challenge for a top-four spot immediately once he makes it to the NHL.

2. Bradly Nadeau, RW/C, 19 (Chicago, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 30th overall, first round in 2023

It was an impressive season for Nadeau, who packs a ton of power and pace into his 5-foot-10 frame. Nadeau was a Hobey Baker Award nominee after leading Maine with 19 goals and 46 points, edging out his brother, Josh, by a single point. Stylistically, there’s a lot to like. He had one of the best shots of anyone in the draft last year, with many believing he’s a future 30-goal scorer. He’s creative, has quick hands, and has a deceptive release while also showing he can score from just about any angle. When Nadeau has the puck, you know something’s about to happen. I was a bit surprised to see him turn pro so quickly, but he’ll be a big piece of the Wolves next year.

3. Scott Morrow, RHD (Chicago, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 40th overall, second round in 2021

*Scott Morrow (Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports)*

Morrow had a big final year at UMass, averaging around 25 minutes a night as one of college hockey’s premier minute-munchers – earning him a Hobey Baker Award nomination. From a style perspective, there’s a lot to like. He’s a skilled defender who skates well for his 6-foot-2, 196-pound frame, using his pure strength to get a good first stride while skating. Morrow had no issue outskating opponents in college, moving fluidly and with purpose in all three zones of the ice. Morrow also loves having the puck on his stick. When it comes to getting the puck out of his zone to start to rush, few players stood out as much as Morrow the past three years. He’s a strong puckhandler who can pull off some eye-popping moves, although the past few years have been more about cleaning up mistakes. That all comes with confidence, something Morrow doesn’t lack.

4. Jackson Blake, RW, 20 (Chicago, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 109th overall, fourth round in 2021

The son of former NHLer Jason Blake was taken 109th over in 2021 after splitting the season between Eden Prairie High School and the USHL’s Chicago Steel. At the time, he was a solid playmaker with good hockey IQ, but there wasn’t enough to make him a surefire NHL player one day. But after two incredible seasons with North Dakota and a great showing at the 2023 World Juniors, Blake quickly established himself as a winger with top-six potential. I wonder if, of all the prospects on this list, he gets the best chance at making the NHL next year. Blake can play with just about anyone, and while I think time in Chicago is still the way to go, I like the potential of him pushing the envelope.

5. Dominik Badinka, RHD, 18 (Malmo, SHL)

Acquired: Drafted 34th overall, second round in 2024

There’s a lot to like here about Badinka, who took a chance on himself by leaving home a few years ago to get the best opportunity to shine in Sweden. Badinka has a good 6-foot-3 frame and solid hockey sense, and he doesn’t crumble under pressure. His mobility is solid, he’s elusive and makes things happen with the puck more often than not. If he can add some extra top speed, he’ll be golden because he’s got the own-zone play figured out. I think Badinka has a good shot at the NHL based on his size, hockey IQ and good defensive zone awareness.

6. Felix Unger Sorum, RW, 18 (Chicago, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 62nd overall, second round in 2023

*Felix Unger Sorum (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)*

I have loved seeing everyone get on the FUS hype train, and for good reason. He’s set to take on North America for the first time after an excellent season with Leksands in the SHL. He also looked great at the World Juniors and made his World Championship debut after a great string of games with the men’s senior team. Unger Sorum has developed his game to become such a force over the past year, with the playmaker being one of the better energy forwards from the 2023 draft class. If he doesn’t make it as a top-six player, he’ll be good enough to make himself valuable deeper in the lineup because he’s that versatile. Unger Sorum is quickly becoming one of my favorites. a guy I want more prospects to be.

7. Nikita Artamonov, LW, 18 (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 50th overall, second round in 2024

Artamonov had a successful first season, registering 23 points in 54 games to sit second among U-19 KHLers. No other draft-eligible even hit the 15-point mark, with roommate and fellow projected first-rounder Anton Silayev sitting second with 11 points in 63 games. In all, Artamonov’s production was the sixth-best by a U-19 player in league history, trailing the likes of Eeli Tolvanen, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Kirill Kaprizov, and Vladimir Tarasenko. From a style perspective, Artamonov can beat players with pace. He’s a good skater with high-end top speed and good edgework, allowing him to make things happen in space. Artamonov’s puck skills and hockey sense are both solid for this group, allowing him to beat bigger, more experienced defenders with his quick hands and creativity.

8. Jayden Perron, RW, 19 (University of North Dakota, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 94th overall, third round in 2023

Perron was one of the most polarizing figures from the 2023 NHL Draft: you either were a hardcore believer in his playmaking, or his 5-foot-9 frame turned you off. I thought he wasn’t strong enough to become an NHLer, but I was really happy to see him get off to a great start in the NCAA this year. He struggled midway through before finding his groove again later in the year, helping restore some confidence around him. Perron is a smart player who might end up being one of the best pure playmakers in the NCAA, given how evasive and decisive he is. But again, his lack of size will hurt him if he’s given a checking role or something along those lines in the NHL. The good news is that the college route is the best place for him to put on some muscle, and with just one year to complete at UND, he has time on his side.

9. Alexander Rykov, RW, 19 (Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 100th overall, fourth round in 2023

The fact that Rykov has spent the past two years playing in the KHL and VHL – which isn’t always the case for a player his age – is a good sign. He produced well enough in both as an 18-year-old, showing good skill and a nice shot release. I think the offensive smarts are developed enough that as long as he keeps at this pace, I can see him being a 20-goal KHL scorer in a year or two. He’s got another year left on his KHL deal so it will be interesting to see if he sticks in Russia or comes to North America, but I think he’s a nice depth scoring option who can make it work in the NHL sometime in the near future. But right now, there’s no rush.

10. Ryan Suzuki, C, 23 (Springfield, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 28th overall, first round in 2019

*Ryan Suzuki (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)*

At a certain point, Suzuki has to prove he can take the next step forward in his career. His production dropped by two points, but it’s his speed and playmaking that make him valuable, not his production. Suzuki has spent his entire career at center, so it’ll be interesting if that either helps or hurts him getting a spot with the big club due to congestion. I think there’s some bottom-line energy potential here, but this is the year to prove that. I still think there’s potential for him to grind out an NHL career based on his improved work ethic and his quick acceleration.

Other notables: Justin Poirier, RW (17), Noel Gunler, RW (22), Gleb Trikozov, LW (19), Justin Robidas, C (21), Andrei Krutov, LW (18), Fyodor Avramov, LW (18), Oskar Vuollet, LW (18), Stanislav Yarovoy, RW (20), Alexander Perevalov, LW (20), Nikita Guslistov, C (22), Lucas Mercurci, C (22), Michael Emerson, RW (20), Bryce Montgomery, RHD (21), Domenick Fensore, LHD (22), Aleksi Heimosalmi, RHD, 21 (Assat, Liiga), Joel Nystrom, RHD (22), Charles-Alexis Legault, RHD (20), Ronan Seeley, LHD (21), Simon Forsmark, D (20), Vladimir Grudinin, LHD (20), Alexander Pelevin, LHD (20), Noel Fransen, LHD (18), Alexander Siryatsky, LHD (17), Timur Kol, LHD (17), Roman Shokhrin, LHD (18), Nikita Quapp, G (21), Yegor Naumov, G (21), Jakub Vondras, G (20), Yegor Velmakin, G (21), Ruslan Khazheyev, G (19)