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

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.