-Gabriel Dorris-

After something like ten(!!) hours of picks, the 2025 NHL draft concluded yesterday. From a Carolina Hurricanes point of view, it went pretty much how you would expect. The Canes, despite owning the 29th pick in the draft, didn’t actually select a player until the 41st. This was due to Carolina trading down twice, earning three extra second rounders from Chicago and Montreal.

Overall, Carolina made seven selections in the draft; four forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. Four Russians, two Swedes, and an American. Similarly to prior years, Carolina put ceiling over all else, picking players other teams were hesitant to over their passport (Russians) or potential character issues (Rybakin).

Odds are, we won’t see any of this year’s Canes selections get NHL action in the 2025-26 season. However, many of these players are likely to become key additions to Carolina’s prospect pool in the coming years. Their first selection, Semyon Frolov (G, RUS, #41), for instance, is probably the new best player in a very weak collection of upcoming goaltenders. He posted strong statistics in Russia’s second league (the MHL) at just 17, and will likely make the jump to the KHL in the coming years.

Frolov’s contract will keep him in Russia until at least the conclusion of the 2027 season, but considering goalies rarely make the NHL jump until at least 23 years of age, this is of little concern to the Canes. By the time Frolov is even close to making the NHL jump, the Canes are likely to have settled on a goalie of the future, whether that ends up being Kochetkov or someone else.

Carolina’s second pick, Charlie Cerrato (F, USA, #49), was a double over-ager, being twenty years old at the time of his selection. Many analysts considered this pick to be a bit of a reach, with Cerrato being projected as a bottom six center in the NHL (if he makes it). However, Cerrato’s USHL to NCAA transition was very similarly effective to Jackson Blake’s at almost the same age. Blake now looks like a future top-six forward. Still, Blake was a statistical outlier, and Cerrato faces the same uphill battle he did to solidify himself as a strong NHL forward. If Cerrato is capable of making the jump to the NHL, his age does mean he may do it sooner than most players drafted around 50th, and his defensively-responsible style is a fantastic Brind’Amour fit.

The Canes third selection, Ivan Rybakin (F, RUS, #62), could perhaps turn out their best. Going into the 2024-25 season, Rybakin was considered a potential top-five pick in this draft, as he was posting Ivan Demidov-esque stats in Russia. His slide to the bottom of the second round was caused by a variety of factors, including concerns over his work ethic, physical shape, and decline in production throughout this season. However, the fact still remains that Rybakin had a top ten skillset in this draft, and Eric Tulsky is betting on the Canes development team, one of the best in the NHL, to get the most out of it. Rybakin, at his peak, could be a true first liner.

The Cane’s next two selections, Kurban Limatov (D, RUS, #67), Roman Bausov (D, RUS, #87), were both defenseman out of Russia. Limatov was selected in almost the exact same spot as Alexander Nikishin (#69) and has many of the same traits (namely his monstrous size and elite vision) that make Nikishin such a compelling prospect. Bausov is also a giant, measuring at 6′ 5″, and similarly has legit NHL upside.

Viggo Nordlund (F, SWE, #183), the Cane’s penultimate selection, was ranked as high as #83 by scouters. He played 15 games in Sweden’s top league this season, a difficult accomplishment for a player his age. He’s a great skater who plays his best when the stakes are highest.

Carolina’s final pick, Filip Ekberg (F, SWE, #221), was perhaps their most intriguing. Ekberg was widely projected to go in the first three rounds of the draft, and his fall was unexpected. The Canes, like with Rybakin, took a bet on his upside, which could be that of a legit top six player.