Carolina Hurricanes: 5 Prospects That Can Make the Jump to the NHL

The Carolina Hurricanes are Discover Central Division Champions and looking to make a deep run in the playoffs, but there is never not a reason to look ahead to the future at what prospects can make the jump next. It’s a testament to the front office that the Canes can have this many good prospects and still be a Cup-contending team in the NHL.

Now, there are only going to be 5 I mention on this list as there are only so many spaces becoming open next year; there are some honorable mentions that are really close, but I just can’t see ready for the NHL yet – we’ll get into those first.

First up is Jesper Sellgren, a 22-year old Swedish-born defenseman who was drafted 166th overall in 2018. Sellgren sizes up at around 5’10 and is a left-handed defender who plays a solid 2-way game and has the mental tools to read the game well.

Sellgren has been playing in the top league in Sweden for the past 3 years under contract for Lulea HF. He put up 15 points in 52 games in his first year, including 6 points in 10 playoff games. Now, interestingly enough, Sellgren actually came over to Charlotte after his season finished to help the Checkers in the playoffs (in which they won the Calder Cup). He had 4 points in 11 games, 3 of them being goals.

In the year after, back with Lulea HF, he put up 21 points in 47 games as Lulea didn’t make the SHL playoffs. This past year he was loaned to Frolunda and he has found his full game. His point total didn’t show it as he registered 19 points in 52 games and sadly 0 points in 7 playoff games. He did, however, play the whole season on the top pairing. I do think that Sellgren could make the full-time move to NA after this year, but he needs time in the AHL before moving up to the big times.

The next honorable mention is another defenseman in Anttoni Honka. Anttoni is a 20-year old right-handed defenseman that the Carolina Hurricanes drafted 83rd overall in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft. You might recognize Honka as his brother, Julius Honka, is already an NHL defenseman with 87 games with the Dallas Stars under his belt.

More from Analysis

• 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida
• Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC
• The Southeast Rookie Showcase Will Be a Good Look at Carolina’s Future
• Noesen Ready To Provide Depth For Canes
• Kids Canes: Shut Outs Stop Them All!

Anttoni has been described as a offensive, puck moving defenseman, and his numbers have shown that. In 2018-2019, Honka put up 8 points in 25 games between JYP and Jukurit of the Liiga and 7 points in 11 games with KeuPa HT of the Metsis league, including 11 points in 17 playoff games.

In 2019-2020, Honka had a better year as he got to play a full season in the Liiga. Anttoni had 19 points in 43 games with JYP. He also got a chance to showcase his ability at the 2019 World Juniors, but he only put up 2 points in 7 games playing for Finland.

2020-2021 was Honka’s best year as a pro as he put up 31 points in 58 games with JYP playing mainly top 4 minutes, but sometimes on the top pair when needed to. He’s also honed up some of his defensive skills and become more of a complete defenseman. Now Honka, to me, has more of the same need to play a year or so on North American ice, but if needed Honka could be used in a sheltered role.

The first forward in the honorable mentions is a guy that Carolina Hurricanes fans might not know too well: Dominik Bokk. Bokk is a 21-year old, right-shot winger that was acquired in the trade that sent Justin Faulk to the St. Louis Blues. A first round pick in 2018 (25th overall), Bokk was highly touted as a forward with a great shot and good playmaking abilities and he has shown those qualities so far.

In his draft year, Bokk put up 23 points in 47 games with the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL, with 3 points in 6 games. He then made himself known in the U20 World Juniors with 8 points in 5 games, only one of those being goals. Overall representing Germany in that year, he had 14 points in 12 games. Unfortunately after this, Bokk went through a rough spell in his development.

Bokk was loaned to Rogle BK in the SHL for the 2019-2020 season, and had 17 points in 45 games (11 of those being goals), playing on the bottom line most of the year. He then had the chance to play in the World Juniors again, this time putting up 8 points in 7 games, 6 of them being goals. In 2020-2021 before coming to the Chicago, he played for Djurgardens IF of the SHL, putting up 3 points in 20 games.

Now, Bokk finally has his chance to show himself on North American ice and he has performed. This year for the Chicago Wolves, Bokk has put up 18 points in 27 games, 9 of those being goals including this stunner a few nights ago against Iowa.

His shot has been lethal, though one of his main drawbacks when he played in the SHL was that he was too greedy and selfish with the puck. From what I have watched of him in Chicago, he has certainly been taking massive strides towards being a lot less of a selfish player. His upside at the NHL level is roughly between a top 9 goal-scoring winger and a bottom six goal scorer. With some bottom 6 players leaving next year potentially, I can definitely see Bokk playing minutes at the NHL level next year, but hopefully won’t have too.

The last honorable mention that I have Jamieson Rees. Now, Rees is the borderline guy that could’ve been included if another prospect on this list hadn’t made such a strong impression in the AHL; we’ll get into that later. Rees is a 20 year-old, 5’11 left handed center that is currently playing for the Chicago Wolves. In the year prior to this for the Sarnia Sting in the OHL (while being an assistant captain, might I add) he put up a solid 61 points in 39 games.

Now, Rees hasn’t had the craziest start to life in the AHL, but to be fair to him, he’s trying to acclimate to playing center against guys with more experience and size than him so it’s undoubtedly a little bit tougher. He’s silently put up 12 points in 26 games this season, with 7 of those points being goals. Like I said, he was just narrowly beaten out by another prospect on this list and that prospect is Dominik Bokk.

Most recently in a win against the Rockford Ice Hogs, Rees had 2 goals and played well overall. He plays on both the powerplay and the penalty kill and helpful to most people watching Chicago Wolves games, plays on a line with Ryan Suzuki and Dominik Bokk. Rees’ upside is around a middle to top six center and overall could play minutes for the Carolina Hurricanes next year if needed.

Now, for the list you’ve all been waiting for: five prospects that could become full-time NHL’ers in a very short amount of time.

5. Joey Keane

The closest defenseman to the NHL that is probably ready now but stuck behind 7 NHL defenseman is Joey Keane. Keane, acquired in a trade that sent Julien Gauthier to the New York Rangers, has a really good two-way game that could probably use the refinement in the AHL that he is getting now, but is the most NHL ready defenseman the Carolina Hurricanes have in their system.

Keane was drafted by the New York Rangers 88th overall in the 3rd round of the 2018 NHL draft. In 2017-2018 with the Barrie Colts in the OHL, Keane put up 44 points in 62 games, 12 of those points being goals. Also needed to be mentioned, this was his second year for the Barrie Colts and he wore an A for the team, which potentially shows his maturity level at said time.

In 2018-2019, Keane got traded mid-season to the London Knights. Altogether, Keane managed to total 39 points in 66 games, 16 of those being goals. This would be his last year in the OHL, as in 2019-2020, Keane spent his first year in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack where he amassed 30 points in 49 games before being traded mid-season. His production didn’t stop though, as he had 7 points in 9 games with the Charlotte Checkers, good enough to earn him a spot on the All-Rookie team.

In the AHL for the Chicago Wolves, he generally plays top line or top 4 minutes with either David Warsofsky or Max Lajoie as his partner. That top pairing with Max Lajoie has been the best pairing the Wolves have had all year as they both impact both sides of the puck, as both play penalty kill and on the power play.

As I’ve mentioned, Keane has bounced between the taxi squad and the Chicago Wolves. But, in 21 games with the Chicago Wolves he has 12 points, all assists. He probably needs a little more time in the AHL before making a jump full time to the NHL, but the team clearly has some faith in him, as he was given a shot to make the roster during training camp this year and he’s been going back in forth between the taxi squad and the Chicago Wolves. If the Carolina Hurricanes need someone to play on the right side defensively next year, he should have a good chance for the role.

As I was writing this article, Keane got called up and made his NHL debut in the last game of the regular season against the Nashville Predators. Paired with Jake Gardiner, Keane played 19:34 minutes of the game, behind only Jake Bean and Jake Gardiner. He played OK on both sides of the puck, his lack of physicality showing, but played well enough to not be the worst defenseman in the game; he was actually probably one of the top defenseman that played in whatever that game was.

3. Jack Drury

As I’m going on, it’s becoming increasingly harder to find images of these prospects. Jack Drury is no exception. Drury is another center prospect that I can definitely see making the jump to the NHL next year and playing in that 4th line center role, as his development took a huge step this year. Yes, Jack Drury is related to Chris Drury; the current New York Rangers GM is his uncle.

Jack Drury is a 21-year old, left handed center that is currently playing for the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL. Drury was drafted in the 2nd round, 42nd overall in 2018 and in his draft year, he put up 65 points in 56 games, 24 of those points being goals, with the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL. Drury then went on to play for Harvard and in his freshman year put up 24 points in 32 games, 9 of those being goals. He was named to the all-rookie team in his conference and played for the US National Team for the World Juniors, but he didn’t have a single point in 7 games.

Drury’s sophomore year was much improved, as he put up 39 points in 28 games, 20 of those points being goals. He was once again invited to the World Juniors and he did better, putting up 2 points in 5 games. Unfortunately, this is where he hit a bit of a roadblock. The ECAC, the conference that Harvard plays in, had its season in jeopardy. As a result, Drury made the decision to forgo the last two years of his college career as the Carolina Hurricanes loaned him out to the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL.

Drury began the year as the team’s third line center but eventually worked his way up to the second line, where he stayed for the majority of the year. Production wise, Drury had 30 points in 41 games, 10 of those being goals. This lead to him being named the SHL’s rookie of the year over prospects such as potential 2021 first round pick William Eklund and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson.

In the playoffs, Drury has elevated his play enough to where he is now Vaxjo’s top line center. Drury has put up 11 points in 14 games, 5 of those points being goals. He recently won the SHL championship with the Vaxjo Lakers and scored the championship-clinching goal. Drury will more than likely come back to North America to compete for a spot on the NHL roster, but even if he doesn’t make the roster, he’ll get valuable time in the AHL. His potential is around a middle 6 center, a la Jordan Staal.

2. Ryan Suzuki

Hey look, another talented Carolina Hurricanes center prospect that can and will compete for the 4th line center role next year. Ryan Suzuki is the cream of the Canes crop for center prospects and he might have the best chance out of these centers to make the NHL roster next year.

Ryan Suzuki is a 19 year-old, left-handed center that the Canes lucked into drafting at #28 in round 1 of the 2019 NHL draft. Some scouts had Suzuki as high as 14th in the draft and as low as 22nd, so to say the Carolina Hurricanes got lucky to grab him at 28th is a understatement. His draft year , Suzuki had 75 points in 65 games, 25 of those points being goals.

In 2019-2020, Suzuki spent about half the season with the team that drafted him in 2017, the Barrie Colts, where he had 23 points in 21 games, 5 of those being goals. He then got traded to the Saginaw Spirit, where he put up 35 points in 23 games, 13 of those points being goals. This is due to him having Cole Perfetti as a teammate and the overall quality of that Saginaw team being better than Barrie.

Now since the OHL season never came to fruition this year, Suzuki has had the chance to play in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves. He has 10 points in 23 games, an even split of goals and assists. Suzuki has the potential to be a long-time contributor for the Carolina Hurricanes, as his potential can be as high as a middle-tier top 6 center. His two way game is pretty solid, and Suzuki is super good with his hands; his puckmoving and playmaking abilities are top-notch as well. He probably has the best chance out of all the center prospects that I listed to make the NHL team next year.

1. Seth Jarvis

Now, if there was an “I’m almost certain this dude will be playing for the Carolina Hurricanes next season” category, Seth Jarvis would be the only player in said category. This whole article was just an excuse for me to talk about Seth Jarvis. Jarvis is the certified top prospect in the Carolina Hurricanes pipeline and also the closest to making the NHL roster.

Seth Jarvis is a 19-year old, right-handed winger who was gifted to the Carolina Hurricanes courtesy of Kyle Dubas. The Canes only held a pick in the first round of the 2020 NHL draft because the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted cap relief and Don Waddell decided to weaponize the cap space that the Canes had, acquiring Patrick Marleau and a first round pick (13th overall) in the 2020 NHL draft for a 6th round pick in the 2020 NHL draft.

That trade, along with the fact that the Maple Leafs lost in the play-in round of the 2020 NHL playoffs, gifted the Carolina Hurricanes the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. To the ire of many Maple Leafs fans, the Hurricanes selected Seth Jarvis and Patrick Marleau was bought out, making the trade complete.

The year before Jarvis’s draft year, he had 39 points in 61 games, 16 of those points being goals before absolutely exploding in his draft year. In 2019-2020, Jarvis had 98 points in 58 games, 42 of those points being goals, for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Covid had given Jarvis a chance to play in the AHL, as the WHL season was put on pause and Jarvis did not waste his chance.

But before Jarvis made it to the AHL level, he was given the opportunity to make the NHL roster as he was invited to the Canes’ training camp. According to people who had the chance to watch a scrimmage that took place during the 2021 training camp, Jarvis was really good and showed flashes of being that goal scorer that the Canes drafted him to be. He was so good that he actually scored in the Red-White scrimmage.

Seth Jarvis in 9 games with the Chicago Wolves had 11 points, 7 of those points being goals. Sadly for Carolina Hurricanes fans who were enjoying watching Jarvis, the WHL season kicked back up recently and Jarvis, due to the NHL-Junior agreement, had to head back to the Portland Winterhawks, where he has returned to form as he has 25 points in 23 games, 15 of those points being goals.

Seth Jarvis has super high-end potential as someone who can be a top line goal scorer but with players like Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen, he probably won’t end up playing on the top line. Put Jarvis on a line with Martin Necas and Vincent Trocheck, though, and my lord you have two first lines undoubtedly.

Like I mentioned before, Jarvis has my near certainty that he will be in the NHL next year with a few Carolina Hurricanes wingers needing new contracts and the hope to possibly grow physically. The Canes could give Jarvis the Andrei Svechnikov treatment, which is to throw Jarvis on the 3rd line with bigger and known protector Jordan Staal to help him in the physicality game while letting him in on the power play and sometimes moving him up in the lineup to let him grow offensively.