North Raleigh Today

RALEIGH, NC - The Carolina Hurricanes are set to expand their prospect pool at the 2024 NHL Draft, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Sphere in Las Vegas. This event marks the first draft with Eric Tulsky as general manager, though Assistant General Manager Darren Yorke will oversee the process for the sixth consecutive year.

Since 2019, six players drafted by the Hurricanes have made their NHL debut, including last year's first-round pick, Bradly Nadeau. Below are some notable selections from the Tulsky-Yorke era:

Pyotr Kochetkov

After selecting Kochetkov in the 2019 draft, Yorke commented, "[Pyotr] is a big, athletic goalie that can really steal games." Five years later, Kochetkov has demonstrated his potential at the NHL level. At 24 years old, he is already recognized as one of the most dynamic goalies in the league. Known for his diving poke checks, Kochetkov boasts a record of 38-20-9 with a .910 save percentage through his first 69 games and has recorded eight shutouts.

Seth Jarvis

The Hurricanes acquired the #13 overall selection from the Toronto Maple Leafs and used it to select Seth Jarvis. Already having played 231 NHL games, Jarvis's performance has validated this choice. He ranks among top scorers from his draft class and is expected to secure a significant contract soon.

Alexander Nikishin

Despite not yet playing an NHL game, Nikishin’s achievements warrant attention. A third-round pick who has represented Russia's Olympic team and been named a KHL All-Star twice, Nikishin led all KHL defensemen in scoring for two seasons and earned captaincy of one of its historic clubs. His arrival in North America is anticipated post-2024-25 season due to contractual obligations with SKA.

Jackson Blake

Drafted in the fourth round in 2021, Jackson Blake's stock continues to rise following an impressive collegiate career at the University of North Dakota. After turning professional at season's end and making his NHL debut on April 16 in Columbus, Blake is seen as an "explosive playmaker" with first-round potential.

Bradly Nadeau

Nadeau transitioned quickly from relative obscurity to making his NHL debut within 293 days. Described by Yorke as "someone who just scores goals," Nadeau impressed during his freshman NCAA season before moving up to play professionally.

These selections highlight key successes under Yorke’s oversight during recent drafts.