For the past several seasons, Scott Wheeler, The Athletic's NHL prospect and draft expert, has released his rankings of each team's prospects, doing a team per day until unveiling his top team at the end of this month-long exercise. On Friday morning, he reached the Carolina Hurricanes, which came a little earlier than some might've expected.
Per Friday's release, Wheeler ranked the Hurricanes at #21 on his list, continuing a downward slide over the last few seasons. As far back as 2020, the Canes sat 3rd in these rankings, and they've fallen every season since, though that makes sense, given the team's success. Last season, the Canes were #16, making this their largest drop.
Because The Athletic's articles are behind a pay wall, I wanted to give you my thoughts on this list without copying and pasting everything that is written. There are actually a few interesting details to the list, even if the top isn't too much of a surprise. The pool might be losing some water, but there is plenty here to keep the Hurricanes afloat in the future.
1. Bradly Nadeau claims the top spot for the first time
It took three seasons for Bradly Nadeau to finally land atop the team's rankings. Nadeau debuted at #2 on Wheeler's list in 2024, behind only Alexander Nikishin, and he maintained this spot last season while Scott Morrow jumped him. This season, there was no doubt that Nadeau would be in the top spot. His body of work in the AHL speaks for itself.
After making the jump from the University of Maine to the pros, Nadeau made an NHL appearance in the 2023-24 season finale before spending much of the last two seasons in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. As a rookie, he topped 30 goals and was second on the team in points. He has been just as lethal this season, scoring 25 goals and 51 points in 46 games.
Nadeau also enjoyed a few longer stints with the Hurricanes earlier in the year, aided by the injuries the team was dealing with at the time. It led to him scoring his first NHL goal in an October win over the New York Islanders. He added another goal right before Christmas in Tampa Bay. The path is still blocked for him to reach the NHL full-time right now, but his future remains brighter than ever.
2. The fall of Nikita Artamonov was steep
The amount of hype surrounding Nikita Artamonov last season was very loud. The Russian winger was tearing it up for KHL's Torpedo, ending the season with 22 goals and 39 points as a 19-year-old. Artamonov was listed at #3 on last season's list, and his prospects were looking incredible heading into this season.
However, it has been tough sledding for Artamonov of late. His production has taken several steps back. He only recorded one assist in 16 games for Torpedo before being loaned to his hometown team, Nizhnekamsk. His production increased, though that isn't saying much, scoring three goals and six assists.
On this year's list, Artamonov fell five spots, slotting in at #8, which feels appropriate, given how the season has transpired. Nizhnekamsk played its regular season finale on Friday and is facing a tough task in the opening round of the Gagarin Cup Playoffs, matched up against 2nd-seeded Avangard. Maybe a late-season three-point performance against his old club will prove to be a positive step.
3. High praise for the top of the 2025 class
The Canes always find a way to maximize their number of picks. They often turn their first-round pick into multiple selections once they're on the clock. That's exactly what they did at the most recent draft. Picking 29th, the Canes traded their selection to Chicago for the 34th and 62nd picks, along with a future 5th. The 34th pick was then traded to Montreal for the 41st and 47th picks on Day 2.
With their picks, the Hurricanes selected goalie Semyon Frolov (41st), center Charlie Cerrato (47th), and center Ivan Ryabkin (62nd). All three are on Wheeler's list among the team's top six prospects. Frolov sits in 2nd, while Cerrato and Ryabkin are 5th and 6th, respectively. It just goes to show how important the 2025 Draft was for replenishing a diminishing cupboard.
Injuries have limited Frolov to nine games this season, but he has played well in the MHL in limited action. Cerrato was rolling until an injury in January knocked him out for two months, though he's back and ready to push for the Frozen Four. Ryabkin was with the Wolves to start the year, but the move to the QMJHL has been fruitful, posting 42 points in 20 games, heading into Saturday's finale.
4. A lack of size up front remains a "big" issue
If I had a dollar for every mention of a small or short forward on the list, I'd have a decent amount of money because that seemed to be a recurring theme for the group. At least four of their wingers were described as being "small," which in hockey terms usually means somewhere between 5'8" and 5'11". While it shouldn't matter a ton, it seems to be all that everyone cares about.
In the Canes' Top 10 alone, he points to the heights of Nadeau (5'10"), Justin Poirier (5'8"), and Justin Robidas (5'8"), and how it complicates their projections in some way. Mind you, Nadeau and Robidas have already seen NHL time and have found ways to contribute. They're also two-thirds of the Chicago Wolves' three leading scorers, with Felix Unger Sorum, who is ranked #3 in the system.
I understand the thoughts surrounding height and how coveted it is in the NHL. However, if that is the biggest thing "holding a player back", then we've taken it a step too far. Being sub-6' is not the end of the world. Just look at Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven, all of whom are doing great things for the Hurricanes. Sure, they can add size up front, but it must come with the requisite skill.
5. There is quite a big Russian contingency
If there is one thing that we've learned about the Hurricanes' draft strategy over the years, it's that they aren't afraid to play the long game in drafting Russian prospects. Alexander Nikishin is a prime example of this. While they drafted him in 2020, it took them five years to get him to North America. Now, he's a few points away from becoming the highest-scoring rookie defenseman in team history.
There clearly is no rush to get these Russian players to North America, and they'll push for it when the time is right. Among the 15 players that Wheeler ranked this season, almost half of them are Russian. Most are still playing in Russia, like Frolov and Kurban Limatov (#11), who should also be mentioned as a 2025 pick, while Ryabkin and Gleb Trikozov (#15) are already in North America.
For those still in Russia, the Canes aren't going to rush things. Frolov is probably several years out from making the jump, especially since it takes goalies longer to develop. Like Wheeler, I'm curious whether Artamonov heads to the U.S. soon, especially since his production has halted. There is plenty of upside throughout the Canes' system. It might just take a while for it to materialize.