The news came fast and furious on Wednesday morning. Along with the national broadcasts release, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that forward and 2025 2nd-round pick Ivan Ryabkin signed his three-year entry level contract. Ryabkin was selected 62nd overall by the Canes after being a potential 1st-rounder a year ago.
Ryabkin went from being one of the MHL's most productive players two years ago to struggling for offense last season. His brief trips to the KHL did nothing for his development either. This inspired him to make the jump to the USHL midseason last year. This move proved beneficial for both Ryabkin and the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
In 27 games after the move, Ryabkin posted 19 goals and 30 points for Muskegon, making him one of the team's most productive players after joining on New Year's Eve. His production continued in the postseason, finishing second on the team and in the USHL with 16 points as the Lumberjacks conquered the Clark Cup.
For all of the good things he does on the ice, there's a laundry list of issues, too. Ryabkin was suspended three times last season for offenses spanning from a slew foot to leaving the bench. There are also concerns about his fitness level and how much effort he's willing to put in. He's not the strongest skater, and his defensive game needs work. Still, the Canes might've struck gold.
What this move means for Ryabkin and the Hurricanes
Ryabkin was supposed to be heading to the QMJHL after being selected 21st overall by the Charlottetown Islanders in the CHL Import Draft. Now, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Ryabkin on the Hurricanes' training camp roster. We should go in with low hopes and be pleasantly surprised if he exceeds our expectations.
This could be a very valuable experience for the 18-year-old as he tries to understand his place in the organization. Since he has already jumped to North America, this feels like a no-brainer for Ryabkin's development. With the Hurricanes' strict system trickling down to their AHL team, any concerns about his game will be targeted and worked on under Cam Abbott and the Wolves' staff.
While Ryabkin can play center, he might be better suited as a winger. Either way, it'll be interesting to see where the organization chooses to slot him. With center depth being a consistent area of concern, it might be worthwhile to try him out there and see where things go. The worst that could happen is that he has to move back to the wing.
If there's any organization that can get the most out of Ivan Ryabkin, I believe the Hurricanes are that organization. This has all of the making of being a high-risk, high-reward decision that benefits the team for a long time. It could just as easily go the other way, but this is a big first step in the process. He immediately becomes one of the biggest stories to watch as we march toward the season.