The Carolina Hurricanes are entering another season as one of the top Stanley Cup contenders. With most of last season’s team intact, and notable additions of Dmitry Orlov and Michael Bunting, the Hurricanes depth is strong. While the team is fairly full from top to bottom with experienced players, the Hurricanes (maybe surprisingly) have a decent prospect pool and some players ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Players in the Hurricanes Depth Could find an NHL Home
The Hurricanes are in a win-now mode. With that, management has been fairly aggressive in filling positions with notable NHL players to provide some certainty in plugging holes. This offseason, they re-signed both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta to spend another season as the team’s goaltending tandem. This worked these last two years, and even though Pyotr Kochetkov is under contract and might be ready for more NHL time, the Hurricanes opted for certainty.
Meanwhile, they added Bunting up front to provide some additional scoring with an edge and Orlov for added defensive creativity and ability. Even though they are not pressing younger players to get experience, there are a few players who could make a case to compete for a spot this season to help the team. This article makes some assumptions including that Jack Drury is likely already on the team.
Vasili Ponomaryov
Vasili Ponomaryov is a 5′ 10″, 180 lb. 21-year-old centre who suited up in 64 games for the Chicago Wolves last season. Over that span, he put up 24 goals and 22 assists. Carolina drafted Ponomaryov in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft from the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. He is a strong two-way centre who plays a Rod Brind’Amour style of hockey. While his defensive game and effort on the ice is strong, he showed some offensive progress last season with the Wolves. His 46 points and 146 shots were second on the Wolves while his 24 goals put him at the top of the team in that category.
Even though these stats aren’t really blowing anyone away, the Hurricanes would not count on Ponomaryov to be a top scorer. Being defensively responsible mixed with a showing of some offensive ability puts him at the top of this list of players likely to find a spot with Carolina this season. Carolina may utilize him in the fourth-line centre role or could slot him in on the wing as is customary for younger players easing into the NHL. He could potentially help out on the penalty kill as well.
Jamieson Rees
Another Carolina second-round selection, Jamieson Rees is a 5′ 11″, 171 lb. centre who also had a decent season with the Chicago Wolves. In 65 games he had 14 goals and 28 assists. His 42 points were good enough for fourth on the team. In assists and goals, he was third and fourth respectively on the team. However, Rees brings a different element than Ponomaryov and maybe one the Hurricanes could use.
While not the biggest player, Rees plays the game with relentless energy and an edge. This is a characteristic Rees had when drafted and has continued that playing style currently. Rees was second on the Wolves in penalty minutes this season with 92. He is not afraid to play physically and won’t back down from scrums. Like Ponomaryov, Rees backchecks and is responsible on his own end as well.
It’s no secret that the Hurricanes vocalized the need to get bigger and grittier this offseason. Even though Rees may not fit the “bigger” bill, he plays bigger than his size. He also more than easily fits the grittier bill. Not saying he has the same ability, but he can contribute some attributes that a player like Matthew Tkachuk brings. Bunting will also bring this edge plus some scoring while Brendan Lemieux additionally teeters that line. In this regard, Rees’s edge may not be as necessary as in other years.
However, it’s rare to see players in the NHL who cannot contribute offensively, no matter how gritty they are. With Rees’s jump in almost 20 points from 2021-22 to 2022-23 with the Wolves, Rees showed good offensive progression. If given the chance, he could be a decent fourth-line centre or wing and chip in a little offensively. There’s a chance he could provide more than Lemieux offensively. On this list, Ponomaryov has the edge in the all-around game and offensive ability, but Rees’s grit could be an x-factor giving him a look with the Hurricanes.
Ryan Suzuki
Maybe the highest upside but least likely of the three, Ryan Suzuki could see NHL ice this season. The 2019 Hurricanes first-round selection has a lot of potential as a top-six playmaking forward, but his development has been hampered by unfortunate injuries. The brother of Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, Ryan is a player who thinks the game at a high level and exhibits strong playmaking ability offensively. He not only can find other players but has the ability to get into scoring areas and exploit open ice. Had it not been for so much time missed due to injury, Suzuki might already have a spot on the team.
Finally getting into more of a complete season, this year Suzuki put up 13 goals and 19 assists in 50 games. This is more than double his previous year’s total. He finished the year fifth on the Wolves in goals and seventh in points and points per game. At 6′, 176 lbs., Suzuki also is not the largest player. He also doesn’t really play as physical as either Rees or Ponomaryov. While he has picked up his battle ability in the corners, he probably has the weakest defensive game out of the three.
But what you get in Suzuki is a higher offensive potential than Rees or Ponomaryov. Sure, he did not tear up the AHL. However, if he comes into training camp with another step forward in his offensive potential, Carolina could utilize Suzuki’s creativity for added scoring. Suzuki is more of a dark horse candidate here. If utilized, he would likely be on one of the team’s top lines versus a checking role on the bottom lines. This makes his appearance less likely, but also possibly more intriguing.
Fighting the Logjam
As crowded as the forward ranks are, the defence is even more so. With only losing Shayne Gostisbehere and Calvin de Haan this offseason, the Hurricanes added Orlov and Anthony DeAngelo, re-signed Dylan Coghlan and may not be finished. While someone like Anttoni Honka might be the next in line following multiple Hurricanes injuries, the chance seems somewhat remote. Meanwhile, keep an eye on the fact that the Hurricanes and the Wolves are no longer affiliated. The Hurricanes may operate without an AHL affiliate in which case they will have to loan players to other teams. This could have some effect on players called up or sent down as well.
The Hurricanes Depth is an Asset
This list provides some budding players the Hurricanes have that could make some noise this season. Will they have that opportunity is another question. The Hurricanes have loaded up from top to bottom and seemingly are not done yet. But injuries and other unforeseen events happen. This is how Jack Drury and Jalen Chatfield made appearances for the Hurricanes in the last few years. Could Ponomaryov take over the fourth-line center slot? Could Rees provide an edge to the Hurricanes bottom six? Or will Suzuki all of a sudden turn heads and leave Brind’Amour no choice but to insert him into a scoring role?
We also will not see the Hurricanes arguably top two defensive prospects in Scott Morrow or Alexander Nikishin due to Morrow’s NCAA status and Nikishin’s KHL contract. But this may not be bad. The Hurricanes have built a solid NHL team with decent depth down into their prospect pool so allowing players to develop properly is actually an asset. The lack of an AHL team will be interesting to watch but is not a backbreaker. You can never have too much depth. Don’t be surprised to see any of these players in an NHL game or two this season.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
