Tomorrow is the final game for the Nashville rookies at the Southeast Showcase. Here are three players from each team to keep an eye on.
The Nashville Predators rookies are wrapping up their time at the 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase Monday morning at 9:00 am CT against the Carolina Hurricanes. I talked with Ryan Henkel, Carolina Hurricanes beat reporter for The Hockey News, about the players to keep an eye on during this final rookie showcase matchup.
Nashville Predators
Joakim Kemell
Kemell has had a strong performance this weekend at the showcase scoring two goals in the first game and threatening with a wicked one timer from the circle on power play opportunities. Nashville drafted the Finnish winger 17th overall in the 2022 draft, and he is one of the top prospects in the Predators system.
After finishing his 2022-23 season in Finland, the 19-year-old joined the Milwaukee Admirals at the end of the regular season. In his 28 regular and postseason AHL games, Kemell scored 14 goals and 23 points. Kemell is a young player who could compete for a roster spot on a resetting Predators team or be an early call up if an opportunity opens up in Nashville during the season.
Luke Evangelista
Evangelista has played this showcase on a line with Kemell and Fedor Svechkov, and he has generated good offensive chances. Evangelista just barely qualifies as a rookie having played 24 NHL games last season. Intended to be a weekend call up, Evangelista’s playmaking abilities and nearly seamless transition to the NHL pace kept him in Nashville through the end of the season.
Evangelista scored seven goals in his 24 NHL games before heading to Milwaukee and scoring four goals and 15 points in 16 AHL postseason games. He will be competing to make the Predators’ roster out of camp and could potentially earn a top six spot with a strong performance at the showcase and in training camp.
Yaroslav Askarov
Yaroslav Askarov sat out of Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers but could be back in net against the Hurricanes. Askarov played last season with the Milwaukee Admirals splitting starts with Devin Cooley but quickly taking over the starting job. In his 48 regular season games, the Russian goalie earned a .911 save percentage and started 12 postseason games in net helping the Admirals get to the Western Conference Finals.
Askarov’s exuberant antics — like laying the net down after a shutout or bench pressing the crossbar after a shootout win— shouldn’t be mistaken for a laid back style of play. The NHL’s highest drafted Russian goaltender is aggressive in net and takes risks that pay off more often than not.
Carolina Hurricanes
Felix Unger Sorum
The 2023 second-round pick has started to make a name for himself as the summer has progressed.
The Hurricanes signed Unger Sorum to an ELC immediately following their prospect development camp, and he then went on to showcase his talents at the World Junior Summer Showcase that took place in early August..
The 17-year-old forward led Team Sweden in scoring with five points in four games, which also tied him for second overall amongst all showcase players.
He’s got great vision and passing ability and despite a smaller frame, he isn’t afraid to go to work in the corners.
Ryan Suzuki
The 2019 first-round pick and younger brother of Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, has not had an easy path since his selection.
Suzuki has been through a lot in regards to injuries. In 2019, Suzuki suffered an eye injury as a result of a high stick that has left a permanent blindspot in his right eye and since then, he’s dealt with a lot of other minor injuries that have hampered his development.
As a result, Suzuki has only been able to appear in 110 AHL games over the span of three seasons and he even missed last year’s training camp and preseason.
He’s always had the talent to be good, but unfortunate circumstances have prevented him from taking those next steps. Maybe this can be the year where he manages to stay healthy and prove he can be an impact player.
Vasili Ponomarev
The 2020 second-round pick is one of a very short list of prospects who actually have a chance to make the Hurricanes’ roster out of training camp.
The Russian center has always had a strong two-way game, something head coach Rod Brind’Amour is keen to, and he also led the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in goals last season with 24 in 64 games.
He was also one of Carolina’s black aces for the playoffs.
A strong showing in the Rookie Showcase could be a springboard into training camp for him and then ultimately into the preseason where he has a chance to compete for the Hurricanes’ 4C role.
Game Information
The Predators and Hurricanes will face off at the Southeast Rookie Showcase on Monday morning at 9:00 am CST. The game will be live streamed on the Nashville Predators website.