Today, we have some news that was lost in the hype of the Canes’ game one win over the Bruins. Carolina signed forward prospect Alexander Pashin to an Entry-Level Contract. Pashin’s salary will be $750,000 next year, with an extra $25,000 for each of the two seasons after. Carolina’s 199th overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft will make the move across to North America for the start of the next season.
Pashin is still only twenty years of age and he’s got a lot of potential. Pashin is a player that could genuinely be a contributor to the top portion of the team for years to come if he reaches his potential. He’s not ready for NHL ice time yet due to the fact he is 5’8, 160, but with a little bit more muscle, there’s no limit on what this player could become.
Pashin is a scorer, he loves to drive at defenders and get them going backward. He never seeks the easy option and loves to drive towards the net both in and out of possession. He’s got the ability to be a game breaking talent when he develops. Pashin fell at least four rounds from where his talent level suggested he should be taken, and Carolina really stole this prospect in that draft.
One of the main reasons Pashin fell so far is because he is 5’8, but the other and probably the more pressing is because he had an overwhelming loyalty to his club in Russia. Now that the Hurricanes have got this player under contract and he is going to be moving across to North American ice, there’s a lot to appreciate about him in terms of what he can do. He’s a good player, and a good talent.
He’ll get a shot to earn a place on the NHL roster in training camp for next season. There’s a lot to like with this prospect, what he could be, and the fact he’s coming over is huge news. One of the biggest concerns about him is now gone seeing as he is under contract. This could make him a very nice depth scoring option in a couple of seasons, once he gets used to the North American ice.