6 prospects to pay close attention to during the 2026 Prospects Showcase in Raleigh

Three months after winning the Stanley Cup, the Carolina Hurricanes are finally playing hockey again this weekend. Of course, it won't be the NHL squad taking the ice. Instead, the 2026 Prospect Showcase will play out in the Canes' backyard, with the organization hosting the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning for a three-day gathering in Morrisville.

On Tuesday, the Canes announced which players would be participating in the showcase, with a few big names sprinkled in among several new faces and a few invitees. While we'll be keeping a close eye on everyone, there are a few I'll be paying close attention to. Here are six Hurricanes of the future to watch this weekend.

1. Bradly Nadeau & 2. Felix Unger Sorum

Let's get the two obvious ones out of the way first. We know what Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum bring to the party. Nadeau has the best shot in the farm system, and Unger Sorum is one of its best playmakers. They're two-thirds of the Wolves' three-headed monster with Justin Robidas. This training camp is incredibly important for both players.

With Seth Jarvis out following shoulder surgery this summer, there is assumed to be an open spot on the wing, potentially next to Sebastian Aho. The Hurricanes might opt to fill that in-house. Giving Nikolaj Ehlers another look after a strong run on Jordan Staal's wing last year is an option, and Jackson Blake might make sense as well. However, there's a path for Nadeau and Unger Sorum, too.

This showcase marks the first step in a fight that could take right up until the Canes submit their roster. There's still training camp and the preseason games to work through as well. These two should be the two strongest contributors to the prospect team, and they'll get every opportunity to prove why they deserve to make the Opening Night roster. It begins here.

3. Ivan Ryabkin

There was a moment this summer when it appeared that Ivan Ryabkin was heading back to Russia for the 2026-27 season. While it's not impossible for that to still happen, his coming to this showcase makes it seem unlikely. It's great news for the Wolves, as he'll be expected to be one of their top forwards this season. A good showing here could be a positive first step.

Ryabkin was a surprising addition to the Wolves' roster last season, considering the Canes had the option to send him back to juniors. They eventually took that route, and Ryabkin looked like a man amongst boys. When he came back to Chicago late in the season, Ryabkin was much better. I expect to see some big hits from him, but I'm mostly interested in his effort and work away from the puck.

4. Filip Ekberg

I'm so tired of reading scouting reports that hype the skills, work ethic, and hockey IQ of a player, only for it to end with a mention of how short the player is. If height were the only true indicator of a player's ability to be in the NHL, there would be so many skilled players left out. Do I think Filip Ekberg will be a long-time contributor for the Canes? I'm not sure, but I'm excited to see him this weekend.

Ekberg has been a strong presence for the Ottawa 67's over the last two years, finishing with 24 goals and 46 points last year. He's listed at 5'10", making him one of the shortest players on the roster, but his track record speaks volumes, especially internationally. Ekberg is expected to represent Sweden at the World Juniors this winter. I'm expecting great things.

5. Noel Fransen

This season marks Noel Fransen's maiden voyage in North America after signing his entry-level deal in May. Where the 20-year-old defenseman begins the season is unknown, but this will be his first chance to show everyone in Raleigh what his game looks like. There's still a lot of development that needs to take place, but there are few teams I trust more than Carolina to develop players.

Fransen's skating is the first thing most scouts talk about with his game, and he's proven to be a contributor offensively in Sweden. Of course, it would be great to see that translate with the Canes. With the present logjam on defense in the organization, Fransen will have plenty of time to season in the minor leagues before his number is called.

6. Ruslan Khazheyev

The Canes are only bringing two goalies to the showcase, which means each is likely to get one game. While I'm interested in seeing 2026 draft pick Zachary Jovanovski, this is the beginning of a very important season for Ruslan Khazheyev. Since coming over from Russia, there has been nothing normal about Khazheyev's development, and his numbers don't tell the entire story.

With the NHL goalie situation set, there are questions for the AHL squad. Amir Miftakhov returned to Russia after one year with Chicago. Zachary Sawchenko was brought in this summer. Cayden Primeau still doesn't have a contract. It's possible that Khazheyev is back in Greensboro again this season, but the backup job in Chicago is far from decided. I would love to see him take that next step.

The Hurricanes will play their first of two games on Sunday at 2:35 pm against the Nashville Predators. After getting Monday off, they'll face the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2:00 pm on Tuesday. While nothing has been announced yet, I'd anticipate the games will be streamed on the team's website. After that, training camp will begin, with their first preseason game not far behind.

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