Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Left Wing

By Nick Bass

Welcome to week 5 of this series where I will go through the Carolina Hurricanes prospect farm, pick out a position group, and update everyone on these players. These updates will consist of how they played this past season, what strengths and weaknesses are in their game, and a projected (if there is one) NHL timeline. These lists will also be a ranking of the position as well, with players listed higher being the guys closer to the NHL and with more potential. This week we will be looking at the left wingers, a group filled with a lot of intrigue.
The left flank of the forwards isn’t necessarily a deep group, with just 5 true ones. It’s the group with probably two of the most skillful players in the system. As well as one of the youngest forwards in the farm and then one of the unlucky ones as well.

Bradly Nadeau

Easily the prospect with the best shot in the system, Nadeau is the number 1 LW prospect in the system. I mentioned him last week as a player who could transition to center at the next level, but seeing how well that went for another youth center (Martin Necas 2C dreams, you will *potentially* be remembered), I’m not holding out hope.
What more can you say about this past year for Nadeau. During his freshman year at the University of Maine, Nadeau excelled in his transition from junior to the NCAA, putting up 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in just 37 games. His excellent freshman year led him to sign his ELC with the Hurricanes and even getting his NHL debut in game 82.
His biggest strength is his shot without a doubt as the puck just explodes off his stick. This was abundantly evident in his NHL debut, where the coaching staff stuck him in the “Ovi spot” on the power play and let him work. He’s not afraid to shoot at all because of his shot, knowing the speed at which it comes off his stick and his placement is beating the goalie, shooting at a respectable 17.4% while at the University of Maine. Nadeau’s playmaking also stood out at Maine, arguably more than his shot at times as his passing was seemingly more crisp in college than for Penticton in the BCHL. Nadeau’s two-way game is also good, playing on the PK for Maine and even scoring a shorthanded goal, showing that he has the potential to be a complete 200-foot player at the NHL level.
His weaknesses are straightforward, that being his strength and his skating. Now, make a note that when I mention weakness and skating, it just means speed. His edge work is where you want it to be but his speed can be his downfall sometimes. Nadeau could also stand to add a few pounds as well, being that he is only 5’10 and 172 pounds and looks every bit of that, even on skates.
Nadeau’s NHL timeline seems rather straightforward, seeing as he already had his debut. He’s going to have every chance to win a regular NHL spot in training camp and if he isn’t ready for the everyday, the Chicago Wolves aren’t going to complain about having him. Either way, Nadeau is playing in more than a few NHL games next year.
NHL Timeline: 2024

Gleb Trikozov

Arguably a top 3 name within the prospect system, Gleb Trikozov is a super fun player to watch. After hoping to finally break into the KHL full-time and unfortunately only playing 2 games, Trikozov found himself playing the majority of his games in the VHL. He made the most of his time there, putting up 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 39 games and becoming a regular for Omskie Krylia. But Gleb would make his presence known in the MHL, putting up 16 goals and 11 assists for 25 points in 17 games, with 4 of those goals coming in Omskie Yastreby’s deep run in the playoffs. Trikozov was also named the captain for Omskie and proved to be a good locker room leader, to my knowledge.
Gleb’s strengths are easy to identify. His skating is levels ahead of players at his age, his passing is crazy to watch due to his IQ and anticipation, and his shot is incredibly lethal. In an interview with Canes scout Oleg Smirnov, Smirnov was asked if Gleb was too focused on using his shot on offense, in which Smirnov praised Gleb’s shot, comparing it to that of current Devils prospects Arseni Gritsyuk who has posted back-to-back-to-back 15+ goal seasons in the KHL. In that same interview, Smirnov was very open in his support for Trikozov, exclaiming “Just give the guy a chance!” Trikozov will get a great chance to show that offensive skill with the Chicago Wolves this upcoming season after he signed his ELC in the spring.
Gleb’s strengths are also easy to identify, that being his defensive game. There were also rumors (I want to abundantly stress, RUMORS) that he butted heads with his KHL coach and was slightly uncoachable, but those RUMORS had cold water thrown on them by Oleg, who said “Gleb plays at his best when there is a goal in front of him. You need to give it to him and he will achieve it. We have few coaches in Russia who can do this and provide support.”
I am a big fan of Gleb’s offensive outlook going forward. I think he has a solid chance of playing in NHL games down the line and being a productive forward who can play in that top 9 and on the power play. I don’t think that he sees the NHL in 2024-2025, but a good year with the Chicago Wolves can change that outlook in a hurry.
NHL Timeline: 2025+

Timur Mukhanov

One of the youngest players in the Hurricanes prospect system, Mukhanov is a very interesting player. A 6th-round pick in 2023, he quickly rose the Russian hockey totem pole, going from splitting time in the MHL and VHL to playing 60 games in the KHL with a young and rising Severstal in just one year. Mukhanov tallied 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points in 63 games for Severstal, who then sent him down after the KHL playoffs and he showed up once again. For Almaz, he had 4 goals and 1 assist for 5 points in 8 games while playing in the top 6 for a team that went decently far.
Mukhanov is a super, super talented skater. His foot speed is well ahead of his age group, as well as his work on the boards, being able to take the puck and get free before a defender can react. Doing this while standing at just 5’9, 159 pounds is something to behold and it’s super fun to watch on tape. Mukhanov is also an above average defensive player, due largely in fact to his skating and being able to pressure the defenseman trying to make breakout passes and being able to force opponents wide and away from goal in his own zone.
The downside to Mukhanov’s game is just those genetics that he has. If he wasn’t 5’9, his traits would easily have him going a lot higher than the 6th round. As well, since nothing Mukhanov does is classified as elite, it’s tough to see him making the NHL unless he can develop more or grow a little.
Mukhanov is an incredibly fun player to watch on tape. Everything he does on ice is a joy to watch, especially for a player of his size. The issue is, well his size. The short king hopefully can grow an inch or two and improve the stock but even if he doesn’t, his traits could translate to an energy guy at the NHL level. Mukhanov is under contract with Severstal through the end of the 2025/2026 season.
NHL Timeline: 2027+

Alexander Perevalov

When we talk about players that have pissed off the injury gods, Ryan Suzuki and Alexander Perevalov are the two answers that come to mind. After playing 49 games in the 2021-22 season, Perevalov played 38 games in the 2022-23 season and then just 24 games this past season. Playing at all three levels, he posted just 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in those 24 games. After consistently getting 15~ minutes per game in December, his playing time plummeted to anywhere between 9 minutes and 37 seconds in the following 2 months, in which he only played 6 games from December 7th to February 11th. I was told that he was seriously sick, which contributed to this, and hope that he has since recovered going into the new season. When Perevalov is healthy, the kid has all the skill in the world. His skating is solid enough, he’s a dynamo when the puck is on his stick and his shot is super nice. His offensive game is rather solid overall.
Now, there are a few glaring issues within Perevalov’s game. His effort level has been questioned at times and his ability to create without the puck on his stick can be suspect. His hockey sense holds him back, not timing his rushes and shots effectively and he can be a turnover machine at times. The effort level claim might have some level of truth, as after being loaned to one of the worst teams in the league in 2022 in Kunlun Red Star, he went from a top-line forward to the 13th forward rather quickly.
There could be an interesting player deep within Perevalov. I’ll have to emphasize deep though, as I don’t know if he can get that player out. If he can put it all together and stay healthy, I become a lot more interested in him. Until then, his NHL outlook is incredibly murky. Perevalov is under contract with Lokomotiv until the end of the 2024-2025 season.
NHL Timeline: ???

Nikita Guslistov

hen working on this article, I had honestly completely forgotten about Guslistov (I know, a prospect guy who completely forgets a prospect, for shame). In my defense, it is really easy to forget about him. The 7th-round pick from 2021 had a rough season this year, playing in just 40 games total this year between the VHL and KHL after playing almost 60 in 2023. In those 40 games, he had 2 goals and 6 assists for just 8 points and was just all-around disappointing.
Guslistov is a decent player offensively. His shot has a nice touch and his skating is solid. His playmaking isn’t half bad. Guslistov was also named the youngest captain in KHL history at just 18 years old in 2021, which has to say something about his leadership (right?).
The main issue is all the other aspects. His size isn’t desirable at just 5’9, 170 pounds and his defensive game is almost non-existent.
Sorry that there isn’t a ton to talk about Guslistov but there isn’t a lot of tape out there to watch for him and it’s tough to see a NHL player there. There was a rumor about a month ago that he was coming to North America so maybe he shows something in the Carolina system but until that moment, he is certainly one of the hockey players of all time.