The Carolina Hurricanes are preparing for the annual Prospects Showcase in Wesley Chapel, Florida, where their top young players will compete against prospects from the Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. The event will be held at AdventHealth Center Ice and includes three games over four days.
The Hurricanes’ games are scheduled for Friday, September 12 against the Florida Panthers at 2 p.m. ET; Saturday, September 13 versus the Nashville Predators at 2 p.m. ET; and Monday, September 15 facing the Tampa Bay Lightning at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can watch all games via links posted on Hurricanes.com shortly before each puck drop.
The roster for this showcase features a mix of drafted talent and players signed to various contracts within the organization’s system. Among those drafted by Carolina are Bradly Nadeau (2023 first-round pick), Felix Unger Sorum (2023 second-round pick), Dominik Badinka (2024 top pick), and Ivan Ryabkin (2025 second-round selection). Other draft picks participating include Filip Ekberg, Aleksi Heimosalmi, Joel Nystrom, Gleb Trikozov, Justin Robidas, Charles-Alexis Legault, Ruslan Khazheyev, and Nikita Quapp.
In addition to these draftees, Blake Biondi joins on an AHL contract while David Gagnon, Deni Goure, Evan Vierling, and Raleigh native Tyler Weiss have two-way AHL/ECHL deals. Braden Doyle and Ethan Leyh are under ECHL contracts with Greensboro—Carolina’s new affiliate—and defensemen Josh McGregor and Jonas Woo join as unsigned invitees.
Among notable players to watch is Bradly Nadeau who led all AHL rookies last season with 32 goals—a mark that stands as the fourth-most by a teenager in league history over its 85 years. Ivan Ryabkin’s immediate future remains undecided between Chicago (AHL) or Charlottetown (QMJHL); his performance during these games may influence that decision.
On defense, right-handed draft picks Aleksi Heimosalmi, Joel Nystrom, Charles-Alexis Legault, or Dominik Badinka will take turns playing on their off-side as they aim to demonstrate growth since last season.
Cam Abbott will coach the team after leading the Chicago Wolves—the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate—to a playoff appearance last year with a fourth-place finish in their division.
Speaking about management’s perspective ahead of the event Canes Associate General Manager/Chicago Wolves GM Darren Yorke said: “Anytime there’s a scoreboard, you’re playing to win, and all these players want to make a strong impression. But no one is making the Carolina Hurricanes solely in these games; we’re focused on seeing growth. We have players who are in different stages of their development and are working on different aspects of their games. Some players are coming from junior hockey so these games will be much tougher as we try to teach them the Hurricanes way. Other players played in the AHL last year and might be put in a new role as we see if they can expand their game.”
