The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that forward Vasily Ponomarev has been assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.

Ponomarev, 21, suffered a knee injury during the Hurricanes' training camp and was placed on the injured non-roster list on Oct. 9.

He's now been cleared to return and so he'll report to the Tucson Roadrunners, the NHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes. 

This adds Tucson to the shortlist of AHL teams that currently house Hurricanes prospects along with the Springfield Thunderbirds (Dylan Coghlan, Jamieson Rees) and Colorado Eagles (Cal Burke). 

The Russian center had 24 goals and 46 points in 64 games with the Chicago Wolves last season and has 56 points in 75 career AHL games. 

The 2020 second rounder also won the 2022 Calder Cup with the Wolves.

Ponomarev was one of a short list of candidates who had a chance to compete for a spot on the Canes' starting roster this season, but his injury early into training camp sidelined that idea.

A tenacious, two-way center, Ponomarev is the most far along of any other Hurricanes forward prospect and will more than likely be the first forward callup for Carolina this season should the need arise, so despite missing a chance to start the year with the team, he may still play in an NHL game at some point this year.

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