Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Carolina Hurricanes’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.
2024 Draft Grade: B
As usual, Carolina traded down to acquire picks and got a fair amount of talent on day two. I had high grades on their first two picks, Dominik Badinka and Nikita Artamonov. In typical fashion for their last few drafts, the Hurricanes then took a lot of swing on skill or talented Russians who slid due to their nationality. Badinka and Artamonov are the only NHL players I see in this group, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they found games from at least one other player in this class.
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Draft Class
34. Dominik Badinka, RHD, Malmö Redhawks (SHL)
November 27, 2005 | 6′ 3″ | 185 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Player comparable: Justin Holl
Analysis: Badinka moved from Finland to Sweden this season, where he became an SHL regular after a strong start in the J20 level. He was cut from Czechia’s world junior team, though. He has a lot of NHL attributes between his size, mobility and ability to make offensive plays. He has a powerful stride and has shown versus men he can make skilled plays and move pucks with a good tempo. His pure playmaking doesn’t excite you, although I see secondary offense coming from him in the NHL. Badinka defends well enough due to his feet and length but he isn’t going to run guys over, which leaves some scouts wondering if he’s going to be a tweener as a pro. I think his two-way game is strong enough to be a potential No. 4-5 defenseman in the NHL.
50. Nikita Artamonov, RW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
November 17, 2005 | 5′ 11″ | 187 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Player comparable: Nick Schmaltz
Analysis: Artamonov played a notable role on a KHL team, including as an important part of Torpedo’s power play. He’s a forward with excellent hands, sense and vision and can make a lot of creative plays. That he’s a strong skater and able to create offense with pace is what has helped his game translate versus men so quickly, as he has often beaten KHL defensem*n with his skill. You rarely see KHL draft eligibles help a team, never mind two on the same club in him and Silayev. Artamonov isn’t that big, he isn’t a natural finisher, and while he competes well enough, I wouldn’t call him the type of competitor you’d love to have in a small winger. It’s why he projects more as a middle-six scorer.
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69. Noel Fransén, LHD, Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell)
December 7, 2005 | 6′ 1″ | 187 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Fransén led all defensem*n in Sweden’s junior league in goals and points. He’s a skilled offensive defenseman who loves to attack. He has strong skill and a good point shot, but it’s his skating that stands out the most. Fransén is a fluid, powerful skater which easily allows him to join the rush and create from the offensive blue line. He has offense, but defense as a pro will be a minor question. Fransén can be shy from contact and isn’t the best at breaking up plays in his own end.
124. Alexander Siryatsky, LHD, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)
August 4, 2006 | 6′ 2″ | 159 pounds
Analysis: Siryatsky is a defenseman with strong puck skills and offensive hockey sense. He makes a lot of plays at the junior level in Russia and earned a few KHL games this season, too. He has a technically odd skating stride, though, and doesn’t have a ton of physicality in his game, leading to issues on the defensive side.
133. Oskar Vuollet, C, Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)
December 3, 2005 | 5′ 11″ | 181 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Vuollet was excellent at the Swedish J20 level this season and in their playoffs and got time up with Skelleftea’s SHL team as well, although he wasn’t as impressive at a U19 Five Nations tournament in February for Sweden. Vuollet is a skilled winger who is a strong skater and can play with a pro tempo. He generates a lot of controlled entries due to his feet. He sees the ice well and can make some plays, but it’s his natural skill and ability to shoot from range that drives his offense. He kills penalties in junior, and competes well enough. He will need to show his offense is truly top-end to carve out a role at the top level.
156. Justin Poirier, RW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
September 4, 2006 | 5′ 8″ | 181 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Poirier has been an excellent QMJHL winger, being a top goal scorer in that league and a leader on a top team. He also led the QMJHL playoffs in goals and points. He’s a very skilled forward who displays excellent offensive skills. He has a high-end wrist shot and routinely beats goaltenders from range. He skates well enough although I wouldn’t call him a blazer. The issues with Poirier come down to his 5-7 frame and that his compete level and perimeter style aren’t what you want in a tiny forward.
168. Timur Kol, LHD, Omskie Krylia (VHL)
August 23, 2006 | 6′ 3″ | 198 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Kol played up for a larger part of the season in Russia versus men in their second-tier league. He is a talented, offensively tilted defenseman. He’s a smart puck-mover who can make a strong first pass and create from the offensive blue line. His skating stride isn’t technically great, drawing ire from scouts due to how much he inside-outs his feet. He is a powerful skater, though, who can escape pressure and activate off the point. He has a good shot and enough skill to get points versus men. His defensive play isn’t as strong. He lacks physicality and his defensive coverage needs some work. The hope is with his frame and mobility he can make enough stops and retrievals as a pro to go with his skill. He could be a third-pair defenseman.
184. Roman Shokhrin, LHD, Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)
February 19, 2006 | 6′ 4″ | 201 pounds
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Analysis: Shokhrin is a tall defenseman who skates well for his size. He has good enough hockey sense to make a decent outlet pass and make a few tough plays in the offensive zone. He has a notable lack of puck skills though and whether he can move pucks versus men is a serious question in his game.
188. Fyodor Avramov, LW, Kapitan Stupino (MHL)
November 19, 2005 | 6′ 3″ | 190 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Avramov was a point-per-game player in the Russian junior league after joining the Kapitan program. The athletic tools in his game stand out. He’s a 6-foot-3 winger who moves very well for a big man. He has good enough hands, and has the combination of traits to create controlled zone entries in the NHL. He makes some plays at the level he played at, but is he the most instinctive player ever? Probably not. But he competes well and has a real chance to play bottom-six minutes.
220. Andrei Krutov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)
April 25, 2006 | 5′ 11″ | 174 pounds
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Krutov was an important part of a top junior club in Russia. He’s not the biggest forward in the world, but he is quite talented. He has quick hands and makes a lot of skilled plays with the puck. He’s also a strong skater who projects to be able to gain the zone with control at higher levels. Krutov isn’t a high-end playmaker or finisher, but he’s adept at both and has enough offense in his game to have a puncher’s chance to make it even as a smaller player.
Analysis
The Hurricanes’ draft can be summarized in two words: trades and Russians.
Carolina traded picks in the first, second and third rounds, moving down three times to accumulate more picks.
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After entering the weekend with nine picks, the Hurricanes drafted 10 players and banked Chicago’s third-round pick next year. Six of the selections they made were used on Russians.
After taking Czech defenseman Dominik Badinka at No. 34 overall, Carolina pounced on Russian winger Nikita Artamonov — who was ranked in the top 40 by both Corey Pronman (No. 30) and Scott Wheeler (No. 40) — with the 50th pick. Both of those selections came from a trade with the Blackhawks for the 27th overall pick.
The Hurricanes drafted five more Russians — three of them big defensem*n — two Swedes and perhaps the most intriguing pick of all.
Justin Poirier, the first player to score 50 goals in the QMJHL as a 17-year-old since Sidney Crosby, tumbled to late in the fifth round before Carolina picked him at No. 156. Poirier is one of the most dynamic amateur scorers of the last decade, but his 5-foot-8 height seemingly scared off teams.
For as busy as Carolina was moving around draft picks, the team was unable to swing any trades for their current NHL roster. That included not moving Martin Necas, the restricted free agent who is being pursued by several teams. With free agency imminent, the Hurricanes will now shift into filling holes for the 2024-25 season. — Cory Lavalette
(Photo: Jeff Vinnick / NHLI via Getty Images)
