The Hurricanes made two picks during the second round to get their draft class started. They started by selecting defenseman William Hakansson at 51st overall before a small trade to pick up the 61st pick netted them Wiggo Sorensson. With a pair of Swedish players off the board, the Hurricanes could turn their attention to the remainder of the draft. Let's meet the rest of the team's 2026 class.
3rd Round, 68th Overall: Zachary Lansard, RW, Regina (WHL)
With their early picks, the Hurricanes were clearly going for their usual archetype. Zachary Lansard is a vicious forechecker, getting into the zone and putting the pressure on his opponents. Playing with the Regina Pats for the second straight season, Lansard saw a massive spike in production, posting 24 goals and 56 points in 68 games.
Lansard is a legitimate scoring threat, with a strong shot to complement his forechecking, but he lacks a discernible transition game, according to Elite Prospects. Once he grows in that area, he could become a far more dynamic offensive producer. He'll likely be back in the WHL next season with Regina, and then we'll see where he goes from there.
4th Round, 105th Overall: Michael Berchild, LW, USNTDP
Like a few others in their class, Michael Berchild was looked at as a player who could have had his name called much earlier in the draft before the season began. He plays a fast game and is very good with the puck. He had 23 goals and 53 points for the U.S. National Team Development Program, so production was far from his biggest problem.
There are obviously concerns about the fact that he isn't 6', so you can make of that what you will. It hasn't stopped him from producing at the U18 World Juniors over the last two seasons. Berchild is taking his talents to the University of Denver next season, so Head Coach David Carle could be instrumental in molding him into a future Carolina Hurricane.
4th Round, 125th Overall: Ryder Fetterolf, G, Ottawa (OHL)
The Hurricanes were almost certain to take a goalie at some point today, and they opted for the Canadian Hockey League Goalie of the Year. As the top backstop in the OHL, Ryder Fetterolf took the league by storm during his rookie season, going 29-9-3 for the Ottawa 67s with a league-best 2.07 GAA and .923 save percentage.
Standing a touch under 6', that was the major trait that stood out amongst his pre-draft scouting reports. It's not impossible to succeed in the NHL at his size, though it clearly was a deterrent for the other 31 teams. He's committed to play at Penn State University next season, so we'll see if he's able to make the leap from junior hockey to the NCAA and find success there.
6th Round, 165th Overall: Zachary Jonvanovski, G, Guelph (OHL)
Seeing a clear need in the net throughout the system, the Hurricanes doubled up in the goalie department by taking Zachary Jovanovski with their final pick. Playing 52 games with the Guelph Storm in the OHL, Jovanovski is more of what you expect to see some from a goalie at a shade over 6'3". However, it doesn't mean that he's more guaranteed to make the NHL than Fetterolf.
Jovanovski was also expected to be taken a little higher before the season began. He's an athletic goalie, but his movement and explosivity can hamper his game. He only had a .890 save percentage this season. His size and the fact that he's a young goalie mean that they can season him a little longer. Hopefully, Jovanovski can develop his game with another season in the OHL.
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