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Welcome to the second installment of the revived “Future Canes” prospect series. In this column, we take a look at Carolina Hurricanes prospects who are standing out and enjoying success, whether they’re playing in Canadian juniors, the American Hockey League (AHL), Europe, Russia, or anywhere around the world.
This week, we will take a look at a former first-round pick who’s had to overcome a ton of adversity on his path to the NHL. We’ll also highlight a couple of red-hot performers in Quebec and Russia, as well as talk about a very mysterious and bizarre situation with a certain goaltending prospect over in Russia.
Ryan Suzuki
While he seems unlikely to fulfill the top-six center potential expected of him when he was drafted, Ryan Suzuki remains an intriguing prospect in numerous ways. As a former first-round pick, there’s still hope, especially considering his rather unlucky injury history and that COVID-19 stalled his development.
The first of 12 selections by the Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Draft that, at the time, looked to potentially be a historically good haul — Suzuki’s story, along with defenseman Domenick Fensore, are the last to be written. Five years later, nine of the other 12 picks have all but left the organization, and the other is Pyotr Kochetkov. It’s a cold reminder that there are no winners and losers on draft day, and now Suzuki holds the burden of being the difference between viewing the class as a success or as a major disappointment.
That said, this season will undoubtedly be the biggest of Suzuki’s career, and it could decide whether or not he has an NHL future. In the past five seasons, he’s played for four different teams and, due to injury and COVID-19 shutdowns, has only skated in 205 of the 356 games he was scheduled to participate in. He also suffered a serious eye injury in junior.
The pandemic ended his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career prematurely and then sliced his rookie campaign in the American Hockey League (AHL) in half. He spent the 2023-24 season on loan to the Springfield Thunderbirds (the St. Louis Blues’ affiliate) because after the Hurricanes split with the Chicago Wolves, he didn’t have a suitable place to play within the organization. Now — finally — he has some stability.
The biggest beneficiary of the Hurricanes mending their working relationship with the Wolves may be Suzuki, who — for the first time since he was drafted — is healthy and in a perfect situation. He’s playing an important role in the Wolves’ top-nine and on their power play; and through three games is the team’s leading scorer.
He scored the team’s first goal of the season in their first game, and then in the second, he set up an overtime goal for their first win of 2024-25. His ability is on display with this goal — he carries the puck into the zone and feints to the middle of the ice, causing the defender to slide down to block the passing lane. He then steps around the defender and waits him out before sending a gorgeous cross-ice feed to Scott Morrow. A real touch of beauty.
Morrow’s OT beauty pic.twitter.com/sXy9uS0EVD
— Chicago Wolves (@Chicago_Wolves) October 20, 2024
He still has high-level patience, vision, hands and hockey sense, and he is still refining his game. He’s been held back by factors that are out of anyone’s control, but at age 23, he remains young enough to have a chance to take that next step. He’s both the biggest “what if” and the biggest question mark within the organization’s prospect system right now. While he’s been overshadowed by the emergence of others such as Jackson Blake and Felix Unger-Sorum, let this serve as a reminder that Suzuki still has a ton of untapped talent, and we shouldn’t forget about him just yet.
Justin Poirier
The first 17-year-old to score 50 goals in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since Sidney Crosby, Justin Poirier is a player I’ve watched live twice, and I’ve always come away impressed. He generates a lot of power despite having a bit of a wonky stride, and when he gets moving, his top-end speed is quite high. His offensive IQ and ability to find the open spaces in the attacking zone is probably his best asset, along with his wicked release. His shot is a thing of beauty – high velocity and accurate. He is a very versatile attacking player who can score in bunches. His skill was on display when he easily batted a puck out of mid-air past the goaltender.
Un premier point dans la @LHJMQ pour Samuel Brunet sur ce magnifique jeu de Justin Poirier.
—#TousÀBord pic.twitter.com/ILBKX26GAx
Drakkar de Baie-Comeau
The knock on Poirier is his size, at 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, but that hasn’t held back others his size, like Alex DeBrincat and Cole Caufield. I’m not suggesting that he can reach their level, but that’s what his ceiling could be. Through 10 games for Baie-Comeau Drakkar, he already has 8 goals and 13 points — he leads the team in both categories. If he stays healthy all season, he could surpass 60 goals and potentially lead theQMJHL in goals.
Quick Hits
Nikita Artamonov
A player I profiled in the first Future Canes series, Nikita Artamonov deserves an update because of his exceptional play. He’s up to 9 goals and 8 assists in 17 games, which ranks top-five in league scoring. He’s also been elevated to the first line. All of this is practically unheard of for teenagers in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) ranks, much less for an 18-year-old 2nd-round pick.
For comparison’s sake — the Montreal Canadien’s 5th overall pick, Ivan Demidov, has 11 points in 18 games for his KHL team — which is also impressive — but Artamonov has out-performed him so far. If he can keep it up, this could be a record season for a teenager in that league’s history.
Yegor Naumov
Since being drafted in the 7th round by the Hurricanes in 2021, Yegor Naumov has cemented himself as the most mysterious prospect I have ever tracked. I spent nearly three seasons searching far and wide for an update on him and was left with nothing. Between 2021 and 2023, he did not play a single game anywhere. Finally, last season, he re-emerged with Arktika Murmansk of the Russian NMHL (a league that’s impossible to find info on — I believe it may be Junior-A level) and posted a 1-6-0 record with a 5.51 goals-against average (GAA) and a .891 save percentage (SV%).
Then he vanished again. He is no longer on Arktika’s roster. Through some digging, I discovered he had a summer try-out with Dynamo Molodechno of the Belarusian League, but I can’t find any updates on what came of it. He is not listed on their roster, either, so I must assume he was released. At this point, he’s played eight games since being selected well over three years ago.
He was always a longshot as a 7th-round pick, and at this stage, I think it’s possible there is a personal issue involved that has kept him away from the game. As such, I wish nothing but the best for Naumov, and I will continue to do my best to track down any updates on this situation.
The important thing to remember with prospects is that development is non-linear. Some players take longer to figure it out than others, and some players never do. Wisely, the Hurricanes’ philosophy over the past few drafts has been to trade back and add more picks, adding more players to their system, which has helped this prospect group grow into one of the deepest in the NHL.
More must-reads:
- Is Kirill Kaprizov worth a record-setting contract?
- Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses missing practice with arm soreness
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
How will Sullivan set up the Rangers forward lines?
While a good deal of the Rangers core remains intact, there is a breath of new life surrounding the upcoming season. Looking to reload after a disappointing 2024–25, the Rangers turn to new coach Mike Sullivan to reconstruct the lineup. With a few new faces and a crop of young talent, Sullivan will have some options in his efforts to reinvigorate the team. Let’s take a closer look at some questions that will define the lineup. Who plays 3C? When it comes to the forward group, the biggest question might revolve around Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers tough season shone a particularly harsh light on Zibanejad’s individual totals, a decline that bemoans many Rangers faithful. Between his contract’s cap hits and clauses, getting a bounce back from Zibanejad seems necessary for the best version of this team. How to do so remains more of a mystery, as a growing contingent begins to contemplate a move to the wing. Vincent Trocheck’s strong chemistry with Artemi Panarin takes a top centre spot, as does J.T. Miller. This leaves Zibanejad with an apparent third-line role as a centre, where his production would hardly be optimized. A top-six winger role would seem flashier on paper, but would it make the team better? A look back at Sullivan’s Stanley Cup-winning rosters with the Pittsburgh Penguins reveals a belief in a strong top-nine forward group. Famously, star winger Phil Kessel helped power a dangerous third line. Perhaps this indicates how Sullivan might approach the situation. A strong centre group is always in vogue, and Zibanejad is a clear cut above other possibilities like Juuso Parssinen. Obviously, the decision will not be set in stone, but working out the rest of the forward group hinges on where to play Zibanejad. Outside of Igor Shesterkin’s hold on the crease, this centre group might be one of the defining strengths of the roster. Though none of Miller, Trocheck, or Zibanejad are thought of as Hart Trophy contenders, as a trio, they are impressive. They match up quite favourably against many top teams around the league. Perhaps playing to this roster’s strengths will require a focus on finding the right blend around their centres. Stepping up Thankfully for the Rangers, there are several young wingers pushing for more ice time. During the offseason, optimism is easy to come by, though in truth, younger players do not always trend positively. There are a number of players who might help fill out a top-nine, and wingers are often the least expensive to acquire if help is required in season. Alexis Lafreniere stalled last season after it seemed he had truly arrived in the 2023–24 playoffs. The Rangers owe it to themselves to move him into a top power play role, which will improve his baseline production rates and build confidence. The Rangers power play was well below league average last season, so clearly a jolt is needed. There are concerns, as last season saw a huge decline in his shot totals, to 153 from 217 the season prior. A spot alongside Miller might seem logical, giving the duo a chance to push Panarin and Trocheck in effectiveness. Meanwhile, Will Cuylle has become one of the Rangers best wingers, often sporting strong possession stats. Cuylle does a lot of hard work and finds shots from the net front. He will be a great help to whichever line he finds himself on, and could help highly skilled linemates convert their skills into offence. On merit, Cuylle deserves a chance in the top six, though he might be able to create a powerful tandem on the third line. In a copycat league, the cats are the meow of the moment, as the Florida Panthers use three separate forward duos to fill out their lineup. Line one has Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart, line two has Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, leaving Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen on line three. The Panthers rotate wingers in and out of each spot among these duos. The Rangers are able to throw together a reasonable comparable with Miller and Lafreniere on line one, Trocheck and Panarin on line two, and Cuylle and Zibanejad on line three. While Cuylle and Zibanejad are both worthy of spots in the top-six, a more well-rounded lineup is often more stout in the playoffs. Filling in It is fair to say that the top of the forward lineup presents these strengths, but the bottom of the Rangers roster will need to pull its weight to pay off the strategy. In this case, the Rangers would need players to step up into elevated roster positions. These players might be burdened with certain responsibilities to make space for their more skilled linemates. Brennan Othmann is particularly interesting here. The former first-round pick seems poised to become a full time NHLer, and has the tools to be a very functional player. His forechecking abilities will be a welcome addition to most lines. Brett Berard is smaller, but can bring similar elements. Both have some offensive qualities, but their path to more ice time lies in intensity and legwork. Taylor Raddysh brings some offence, but could be overtaken by rookie Gabe Perreault. Perreault is a huge x-factor for the Rangers, as he could add talent to the top six. At the same time, he likely needs an important offensive usage to be at his best, and the bar is high. Raddysh might be able to buy Perreault some time if he is not yet ready for an important role on a playoff hopeful. Juuso Parssinen and David Edstrom are entering their mid-20s, and both might be able to step into bigger roles with the team this season. Their spots in the roster are far from guaranteed, and their upside is seen as more limited. Still, Parssinen and Edstrom could provide a great deal of support if they are able to take a step over the summer. There will be competition from veterans like Sam Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski. Mock lines Let’s put all this together to make some potential forward lineups for next season. Naturally, there will be adjustments throughout the season as the power vacuum of a new coach unfolds. Loading up the top six Panarin—Trocheck—Zibanejad Cuylle—Miller—Lafreniere Othmann—Parssinen—Raddysh Edstrom—Brodzinski—Berard Zibanejad is insulated by high quality linemates, helping him rediscover higher offensive totals. Lafreniere gets a new place in the top-six, provided with a good deal of grit and skill. This should help Lafreniere play a more skilled game. Othmann and Parssinen might form a reasonable checking duo, given Raddysh here for some offensive credibility. The Rangers would have to lean heavily on their top players for this to work, as their bottom-six might be overmatched on a regular basis. If the bench is shortened while the team is trailing, it might make sense to load up in a similar fashion. This setup shields Perreault from being thrown into the lineup before his time. Three lines Perreault—Miller—Lafreniere Panarin—Trocheck—Othmann Cuylle—Zibanejad—Berard Edstrom—Parssinen—Raddysh Meanwhile, a reliance on rookies and going with Zibanejad at centre offers a much deeper look. There is no guarantee the ruling players can live up to such lofty roles, but at least they would have the support of stronger linemates. Perreault is given a good dose of skill and size to work with, while still having elite offensive talent on his line. Othmann can do a lot of important dirty work for Panarin and Trocheck, a jolt of youthful energy. Zibanejad and Cuylle can form a strong duo on both sides of the puck, and Berard given a chance to join in without much stress on his size. Even the fourth line looks strong here, showing how much of an impact growth for Perreault, Othmann, and Berard can have.
Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
Green Bay Packers: NFL Insider Reveals 1 Huge Improvement Jordan Love Has Made During Offseason
The Green Bay Packers have some lofty goals for the 2025 NFL season, the primary one being winning the Super Bowl. And while this should be the goal of every NFL team, it is especially true for the team that calls its home Titletown. Indeed, it has been 15 years since the Packers last won a Super Bowl, a draught that fans, players, and coaches are all too well aware of. Additionally, the team has laid a foundation, over the last two seasons, with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback with young playmakers around him that, hopefully, will help Green Bay take the next step back into serious contention. And, as is the case in the modern NFL, it all begins and ends with the quarterback position, and Love is raising eyebrows with one intangible that he has been working on improving for the last two years. ESPN Insider Impressed with How Jordan Love Is Leading the Green Bay Packers One of the things that head coach Matt LaFleur wanted Love to work on more, once he became the starter back in 2023, was becoming a more vocal leader. Love is not loud or boisterous by nature, so it was something that he had to make a conscious effort on which to work. And, at least to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Love has made some great strides in that department: “This is Jordan Love’s team. That was the case by default when he took over as the starter in 2023. But Love is much more comfortable as a leader in Year 3 as a starter. LaFleur has urged his quarterback to be vocal and he’s answering that challenge. ‘Night and day,’ coach Matt LaFleur told me. ‘Even from last year, and I thought he took a big jump last year. Way more presence. As the kids say, he’s got aura.’ “Love is not the most outspoken player by nature, but he’s worked on it and believes it’s going well. Late in 2023, the list of quarterbacks playing better than him was short. But last season, the Week 1 knee injury cost him momentum and mobility. He is back to moving well, and he’s got the best supporting cast in his three years as a starter.” Love has always had the respect of his teammates, and no one needs to look further than how the entire roster rallied around him when Green Bay traded Aaron Rodgers to make way for the 2020 first round pick to take over the offense. Now, Love is entering his third year as the starting quarterback, and his sixth NFL season overall. He knows the offense, he knows the players around him. He is leading, and the Packers will go as far as he can take them. Of course, it will be a team effort, but the quarterback is the most looked to player on the field, on the sidelines, and in the locker room. Love is setting the tone, and he wants to win a Super Bowl this year, saying that it is the team’s primary focus, even before winning the NFC North. Hopefully, his vision becomes reality.
Raiders' Spytek Makes Interesting Roster Moves
It's officially the first week of the NFL preseason, as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night for a first glimpse of the team's new regime. However, general manager John Spytek continues to be active with the 90-man roster in training camp, making a couple of moves Sunday morning by adding two new pass-catchers to the Raiders' offense. Raiders sign free agent WR Kawaan Baker and TE Albert Okwuegbunam The Raiders announced they had signed two free agents, wide receiver Kawaan Baker and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, adding more depth to both position groups ahead of Thursday night. In a corresponding move, TE Pat Conroy and WR Kyle Philips were waived from the 90-man roster. Okwuegbunam is the notable addition as a former well-regarded tight end prospect from the Missouri Tigers. He was a fourth-round selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft, spending three seasons with the team before he was traded in 2023 to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2025 seventh-round choice. The former Missouri standout spent some time on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad before being released this past week. Okwuegbunam's best season was in 2022 when he caught 33 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Baker was a former seventh-round pick by the New Orleans Saints out of South Alabama. The former Jaguars playmaker has spent time on four teams throughout his NFL career and played for the United Football League's San Antonio Brahmas before signing with the Raiders on Sunday. Baker was a productive college wide receiver, accumulating over 1,800 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns during his career. He capped his senior season with 51 catches, 659 yards, and eight touchdowns. Okwuegbunam is a late addition to training camp, joining a tight end room that features 2024 rookie sensation Brock Bowers and former Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer. Las Vegas signed former Carolina Panthers tight end Ian Thomas, who was a free agent signee this offseason, making the hill will be a tough one to climb for Okwuegbunam. Baker comes into the wide receiver corps with a group of young players fighting for a roster spot this month. The Raiders should have some of the most competitive battles in camp at receiver, and Baker has an opportunity to swoop in and make a name for himself. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and weigh in on the Raiders latest addition to their roster. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss this take.
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