The Carolina Hurricanes are set for an action-packed second day during the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday. After a late-night decision to trade out of the first round, the Canes carry seven picks into the day as they try to make more dreams come true. If we know anything about the Hurricanes' front office, they'll end the day with many more picks.
In their trade with the Blackhawks, the Canes acquired two picks in the second round, sitting at 34th and 62nd overall. This means they'll make the second pick of the day after the San Jose Sharks kick off Saturday's festivities. After using their newly-acquired capital, they're scheduled to pick 87th, 125th, 183rd, 189th, and 221st.
Players to watch for the Hurricanes at #34
With the Hurricanes not making their selection at #29, it allows us to hit a soft reset and look at the players available for them before making their first pick on Saturday. There are plenty of players still available who could be difference-makers at the NHL level in the future. Here are four players at the top of my board for the team to consider.
Milton Gastrin: As one of the most well-rounded players on the board, I don't expect Gastrin to fall much further. Captaining Sweden to silver at the U18 Championships, Gastrin had a solid draft season. While he's a reliable player in all three zones, there are concerns about what his ceiling is, though there's no shame in being a versatile third-line center.
William Moore: There has been a little stagnation in Moore's development over the last few years, leading to him falling out of the first round. Moore can play up the middle and on the wing, so his versatility could be valuable. He can be both a playmaker and a physical threat, showing there's still plenty of potential in his game.
Ivan Ryabkin: As expected, Ryabkin fell out of the first round. While he might not be at the top of the "best available" lists as the second round begins, there must be an appetite for a player with his offensive upside. He's a long-term project, but it could be a high-risk move the Hurricanes can afford to make. Not to mention, the Canes don't shy away from drafting Russian skaters.
Jack Murtagh: While the three previous players can play center, Murtagh is a pure winger with an excellent shot. He'd likely be a purely offensive player who'd run through a wall if it were asked of him. He's a strong skater who can blossom into a contributor in the NHL. If he gets a little smarter with his reads, Murtagh has plenty to offer.
Beyond the second round, it's anyone's guess what could happen
Predicting a draft of any kind is a near-impossible task after the first few picks. With six rounds left to transpire, it could go a million different directions. However, there are two near-certainties for the Hurricanes with their remaining picks. First, they absolutely have to address their goalie depth throughout the organization. I didn't list any, but there's a chance #34 is used on a netminder.
Second, Tulsky and the front office aren't done wheeling and dealing. There's bound to be another time or two where they'll opt to trade back and add more picks. I still believe the Hurricanes will make no fewer than eight selections on Saturday. They could shock us all and complete a Day 2 blockbuster. It wouldn't be the first time.