Carolina Hurricanes’ 2025 NHL Draft Recap

Another great skillset that Ryabkin possesses is how he makes a great selection of shots, especially from tough angles. His shooting ranges from a hard, accurate wrister to a dangerous backhand for deceptive shots on goalies. However, one aspect of his game that needs to improve is to always be present and have pace to his game. He shows flashes of not playing with pace, which leads to gaps in his transition defense. If his backchecking starts to lack, it could lead to a one-dimensional game, and be something where his defensive IQ needs to be addressed. Overall, he is a skilled player who needs to develop his defensive game.

67th Overall – Kurban Limatov, D (Dynamo Moscow Jr – Russia)

At the last pick of Round 2, the Hurricanes kept the Russian pipeline going, this time switching over to the defensive side of the ice. At 67th overall, they took Kurban Limatov after trading with the Los Angeles Kings (125th overall and a 2026 third-round pick) to move up in the draft. The Moskva, Russia native tallied eight goals and 23 points in 46 games for MHK Dynamo Moscow. Limatov is viewed as a big, mobile defenseman who can be physical on both sides of the game. What sticks out about the 18-year-old 6-foot-4 defenseman is how fluid he is when it comes to his skating and style of play. He finds a way to make his play seem jaw-dropping with the explosiveness of his transition effectiveness.

He can find a way to escape forecheckers when it comes to the breakout, which then sees him transport the puck across the neutral zone. Limatov makes his skating seem seamless through crossover-heavy rushes. What helps make his skating seem easy is how he employs a strong base with his strong physical body, which has ideal depth throughout his stride.

Limatov is a perfect mold of what the Hurricanes look for in a two-way defenseman, especially when you get the added bonus of his size and physicality. He brings the size, reach, and strength to excel in battles on the forecheck and backcheck, something that assistant coach Tim Gleason loves in his defenseman. Furthermore, just the way he plays sees him winning many puck battles along the boards and in the net-front area, which is crucial for the Hurricanes, who need some net-front presence.

87th Overall – Roman Bausov, D (Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr – Russia)

The Hurricanes’ sole third-round pick was another Russian defenseman, their 10th Russian in the last two drafts. They selected Roman Bausov of MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg at 87th overall. The 18-year-old St. Petersburg native tallied two goals and 11 points in 41 games in the Russian junior league. What sticks out is that Bausov is an impressive 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds. The right-shot right defenseman was ranked 34th for European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

The appeal for Bausov comes from his massive frame and solid mechanical base. It leads to his defensive range, something to appreciate, especially for his size and how he can match the forward’s footwork through all zones of the ice. Being able to do that on open ice and along the boards makes it hard to get around him. His long reach gives him the ability to swat the puck away from opponents’ sticks, leading to puck changing possession and transitioning the other way.

His ability to track plays effectively makes for great zone coverage. Bausov has shown how to create pressure behind the net while not leaving any space in the crease. Furthermore, he knows when to make his aggressive moves to break down cycles and stop long offensive possessions for opponents. He is set to play for MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg next season.

183rd Overall – Viggo Nordlund, LW (Skelleftea AIK Jr – Sweden)

The run of Russians ended in Round 6, almost two hours between picks, when the Hurricanes selected Swedish winger Viggo Nordlund of the Skelleftea AIK J20 team. The Ingarö native tallied 24 goals and 49 points in 40 J20 Nationell games. He also had six goals and 12 points in six playoff games. The assistant captain had himself a season following nine goals and 35 points the season before in 37 games. Nordlund stands at 5-foot-9 and is a left-shot left winger, and is someone who brings speed and great deceptive dekes in his bag of tricks.

His offensive talent level brings a dynamic of someone who has fast-twitch handling and elusive skating. That combination gives him the ability to beat defenders 1-on-1 and create offense on every attack in the offensive zone. He almost has the offensive zone entry of a Martin Necas, coupled with his speed. However, he wasn’t always a one-man show for Skelleftea. Nordlund’s ability to start rushes was masterful during the J20 Nationell season. He was finding ways to position himself in the right spot to find those tough and even easy passes to teammates in the right spots. His offensive IQ granted him the ability to create chances for some high-danger opportunities.

He is expected to play for IK Oskarshamn on loan in the HockeyAllsvenskan during the 2025-26 season.

221st Overall – Filip Ekberg, LW (Ottawa 67s – Ontario Hockey League)

After what felt like 84 years, the final pick for the Hurricanes came in Round 7 with the fourth-to-last pick of the NHL Draft. Their last pick at 221st overall went to Filip Ekberg of the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The 5-foot-10, 168-pound product tallied 16 goals and 45 points in 53 OHL games. In 19 games for Team Sweden in international competition, he had 15 goals and 27 points, including 18 during the U18 World Championship. Ekberg was ranked 178th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting but was expected to be selected in Round 3 or Round 4.

Ekberg’s scoring prowess was the talk of the U18 World Juniors, where he led the tournament with 10 goals and 18 points. His quick hands, shifty footwork, high-end awareness, and excellent speed make him a dynamic offensive player. Ekberg is viewed as a cerebral tactician who is an offensively minded playmaking forward. He anticipates the flow of the game and always finds ways to give himself time to make the right play. In the offensive zone, Ekberg somehow always finds those cross-ice passing lanes to create chances.

What makes Ekberg close to elite in his stickhandling is his patience. He holds the puck, which forces the defense to bite, and when they do, he makes them pay. He could be that surprising left-winger who is sneaky good in the right system. His hockey IQ is underrated, as he sees the next play before anyone else picks up on it. His quick feet and speed make him sturdy in all areas of the offensive zone. A great last pick of the draft for the Hurricanes, a pick that fits what they look for in a player without question.

Draft Is Over, Bring on Free Agency

Now that the draft is over, all sights are set on Tuesday, July 1, as the free agency and re-signing phase begins in the NHL. The Hurricanes picked up seven prospects in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and are now setting their sights on bringing more players into the organization. It’ll be interesting to see how the Hurricanes do during Day 1 and beyond of free agency. After another great draft for general manager Eric Tulsky, associate general manager Darren Yorke, and the Hurricanes’ scouts, they are on a great path moving forward into the 2025 offseason. Only time will tell how it’ll go, but overall, what a solid couple of days of adding more talent to the Hurricanes’ prospect pool.