The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Ivan Ryabkin to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. General Manager Eric Tulsky stated that Ryabkin will receive $775,000 in 2025-26, $850,000 in 2026-27, and $895,000 in 2027-28 at the NHL level. At the American Hockey League (AHL) level, his salary will be $85,000 for each of the three seasons. The contract also includes a combined $235,000 in signing bonuses.
Ryabkin, 18, played with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2024-25 season. He recorded 30 points (19 goals and 11 assists) in 27 games, leading all Muskegon skaters and ranking ninth among league players in points per game at 1.11. In the playoffs, he added 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) over 14 games and helped Muskegon secure its first USHL championship. His postseason performance ranked second among all USHL players.
The Balakovo, Russia native also competed for MHK Dynamo Moskva in Russia’s MHL league last season with 12 points (one goal and eleven assists) in fifteen games. He registered two assists in eight games with Dynamo St. Petersburg of the VHL and appeared in two KHL contests for Dynamo Moskva. Ryabkin led all MHK Dynamo Moskva players in points per game (.80) during the past season and tied for the club lead with 58 points (24 goals and 34 assists) during the previous year.
He holds the record as MHK Dynamo Moskva’s all-time leader in points per game at 1.19 and led all MHL skaters under age eighteen in both assists and total points over the last two seasons (70 points on 25 goals and 45 assists). The Hurricanes selected Ryabkin with their second-round pick, sixty-second overall, at this year’s NHL Draft.
“Always a chance to see something special with Ivan Ryabkin on the ice!️,” according to a statement from USHL (@USHL).
