Hurricanes draft seven players on Day Two of the NHL Draft
Posted July 8, 2022 10:14 p.m. EDT
Montreal, QC - The Hurricanes didn't have a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, but Carolina cleaned up pretty well on Day Two.
The Canes bolstered the pipeline in each phase of the game, taking three forwards, three defenseman and a goalie.
Here's a look at each of the seven picks that were selected in this year's Draft.
Round 2, 60th overall
Gleb Trikozov (LW) - Omsk, RUS
A potential steal alert? Definitely. Ranked as high as No. 22 by Elite Prospects, this 6'1" winger was a scoring machine for Omsk in the Russian MHL Jr. league, Trikozov scored 23 goals and notched 22 assists. Even more impressive, in 13 playoff games this season he had 10 goals, 8 assists for 18 points and was a +10.
Assistant General Manager, Darren Yorke, said they were really excited about this first pick calling him an incredibly high-end offensive player.
"A young August birthday at almost a point a game in the MHL. He's really smart at transitioning the puck and carrying it from the neutral zone in to the offensive zone"
Round 3, 71st overall
Alexander Perevalov (F) - Mezhdurechensk, RUS
Another winger from Russia, Perevalov is also offensive minded, At nearly a point per game production Yorke says Perevalov and Trikozov are similar in the way they are able to drive the offense. In the MHL last season, the 6'0" 190-lb righty scored 25 goals and notched 25 assists for 50 points in 42 games. The Hurricanes got another potential huge steal in the third round. TSN and Sportsnet in Canada had Perevalov ranked as high as No. 21 by TSN's Craig Button.
Round 4, 101st overall
Simon Forsmark (D) - Kumla, SWE
The Canes went after a big-bodied left-handed defenseman in the fourth round grabbing the 6'2" 200 lb Swede. Forsmark is on the older end of this draft class, missing the 2021 Draft cutoff by just days. Another player snagged late but projected in the Top 80 in most pre-draft rankings. If we've heard it once, well, we've heard this a hundred times from Rod Brind'Amour & Co. "Our system" or "the way we're trying to play". Well that's exactly why Yorke thinks Forsmark will fit in on the blue line.
"[He's] able to generate offense as well be able to play strong defense," said Yorke. "He's another player we felt like he would fit in to how we want to play with the ability to gap-up and hold the defensive-zone blue line."
Round 4, 124th overall
Cruz Lucius (F) - Grant, MN, USA
Another winger with good size coming out of the United States Development Program. Lucius missed some time with a broken wrist and took a little bit to get back up and running, but the Hurricanes have known about him for quite some time. The forward competed in the U-18 World Championships where he recorded seven points in the Americans’ six games, and earned a silver medal.
Lucius has committed to play for the University of Wisconsin next season. His brother — Chaz — was drafted 18th overall at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
Lucius' injury likely caused him to slide in the draft and Yorke says they were excited to see he was still there.
"He's a high-end offensive player - great shot, great around the net and can make you miss with his hands."
Round 5, 156th overall
Vladimir Grudinin (D) - Angarsk, RUS
Grudinin is a left-handed shot defenseman whose size might look alarming at 5'10, 155 lbs, but don't let that fool you. This blue-liner has played with men in Russia, suiting up for both the National team and CSKA Moskva. In his six-game KHL stint, he was one of just six U19s to register a point and appeared in seven KHL playoff games. His ability to open things up on the offensive blue line and the ability to create separation as well as defend is something Yorke says was exciting for them and they have concern if he can defend against men.
"The way he skates and the way he holds tight gaps and then us being able to watch him do it at the National level and the Karala Cup and being able to handle the strength of the older, bigger and strong er players was great."
Round 6, 171st overall
Jakub Vondras (G) - Czechia
You can never have enough goalies in your system! The Vondras is a 6'3" netminder who faired pretty well with his junior team HC Plzen U20. In 16 playoff appearances he had 1 .91 GAA, a .935 SV% and went 10-5 with a pair of shutouts.
"Incredibly smart goalie," said Yorke. "Lots of little shoulder checks and being able to recognize side-to-side plays and is athletic and the power to get across so it's somebody we're excited to bring in to our organization."
Round 7, 205th overall
Alexander Pelevin (D) - Balakhna, RUS
The Canes' final pick was their fourth Russian who Yorke described as similar to Vladimir Grudinin in being able to hold tight gaps. But what you really need to know about the 6'1" blue-liner is his elite skating ability that helps him be able to get up in the play and join the rush. Pelevin doesn't have a lot of offensive production, but Yorke says they feel like that can be developed once he transitions to North America.
"Some of that offensive game will be a little easier for him because of how well he skates and how well he holds tight gaps. The competitive aspect of his game is really strong as well."
The Hurricanes prospect development camp gets underway next week in Raleigh and the organization expects at least three of its newest draft picks to be in attendance.
NHL Free agency begins Wednesday, July 13th.
