Carolina Hurricanes 2019 Draft Update: The Final Segment

The Hurricanes selected 12 players in the 2019 draft. How have their seasons gone, and what could their futures hold? Join us the final installment of this 3 part series!

Before we get started and conclude our 2019 Draft update with the final 4 prospects selected by the team, making sure you get caught up with Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven’t read them yet!

Today we’ll go over the final four prospects they drafted – the late-round guys – with all 4 of these guys being drafted late in the process. As such, the expectations should be limited, and they all have question marks surrounding them, but they all have unique skill sets that could make them factors in Carolina’s plan one day down the road.

F Kirill Slepets (5th round, 152nd overall)

Kirill Slepets is one of the rare Russian forwards drafted by the Hurricanes in recent memory. Before the arrival of Don Waddell in 2018, the Hurricanes had not drafted a Russian-born player since 2001, and had not drafted a Russian-based forward since the Hartford Whalers took Dmitri Gorenko in the 9th round back in 1993.

Slepets is what you’d expect from the prototypical Russian forward. He’s undersized (5’10, 154lbs) but has extremely fast breakaway speed, a good release on his shot and some solid puck skills. His skating really jumps off the tape when you watch him – this kid is seriously RAPID.

He was twice undrafted, so he’s 20 years old now and a decent way into his progression. After he outgrew the VHL this year (which is the Russian AHL) he’s been plying his trade with Dinamo Riga of the KHL, and he’s got 4 goals and 7 points there in 29 games. He’s worn an A for them as an assistant captain on multiple occasions, so he’s got some leadership quality. And man, he is QUICK.

I know those numbers don’t seem overly impressive, but Riga is an awful club (they sit dead last) and Slepets has performed well in comparison to a lot of his veteran teammates. He’s also a 20-year old playing in the 2nd best hockey league in the world, so there’s reason for hope.

His minor hockey coach, Maxim Survilov, worked extensively with Slepets for years to develop his game.

"“You could already see the characteristics which his strong sides are today, [such] as speed and determination.” Survilov said."

The Athletic scout Corey Pronman thinks Slepets has a chance:

"“Pace defines his game. Slepets skates and plays fast. He’s often a player asked to carry the puck up the ice. He also competes well, pressuring defenders at his blue line, and he can be an excellent penalty killer.”"

Reading this, you’re probably thinking “we get it Alex. he’s fast”. I just need to hammer it home that this kid is an absolute missile. Just take a took for yourself:

Beyond that, he has really good hands in tight, and can really throw goaltenders off with his patience and deking ability:

There’s a lot to like about Slepets. His overall game is coming along quite nicely, and he probably has a chance at an NHL spot sometime down the road. The big question will be if Carolina can convince him to come abroad from Russia, where’s he’s spent his entire playing career and life to date.

I wrote a real in-depth piece back in October that includes Slepets’ backstory and hockey journey, and you can read that right here if you’d like.

To wrap up on Slepets, he was the 40th ranked prospect by ISS Hockey in 2017 and went undrafted. He’s a kid who has real talent, but has always been overlooked (size and region play a huge factor). If he puts it all together, he could find himself in a middle-six role for the Canes down the road, but it all depends on if he’s willing to come over from Russia and potentially start off in the AHL.

Estimated NHL arrival: 2+ years