It’s no secret that the Carolina Hurricanes have been doing very well with scouting in Russia, having drafted players like Pyotr Kochetkov and Alexander Nikishin and it seems like they’ve struck gold once again in the most recent draft.
Carolina’s second pick of the 2024 draft, forward Nikita Artamonov who went 50th overall, is currently lighting up the KHL as an 18-year-old.
Artamonov, who plays for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, has eight goals and 16 points in 14 KHL games which is already more goals than he scored in 54 KHL games last season.
“You have this incredibly energy-driven player that can play a bunch of different styles,” said Hurricanes associate general manager Darren Yorke at the draft. “He can get in on the forecheck, he can go and make plays. You look at how aggressive we play and that style fits incredibly well and then you add the skill level on top of all of it.”
The young phenom is currently tied for the league lead in goals and second for points, just one behind former AHL defenseman Trevor Murphy.
Artamonov was already a cerebral-type player able to think the game at a high level, but especially this year he’s seemed to have developed a lethal shot and offensive awareness around the net.
Here’s what two scouts had told The Hockey News before the draft:
“(Artamonov) might be the smartest Russian in this draft, and that’s saying something. This guy’s sense is really good, and he has really good compete.”
“He’s one of those guys people won’t know who will probably go higher than people think. Some team might get a steal.”
And here’s what Nick Bass of Canes Prospects had to say:
“Artamonov’s calling is his forecheck. He’s relentless, always finding that extra gear in his motor to keep the defenders in check. He’s also adept at winning the puck battles, coming away from the boards with the puck more times than not.”
The young forward is currently on an eight-game point streak in which he’s scored seven of those goals and 15 of his points.
The Hurricanes actually obtained the pick they used for Artamonov by trading their first-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for two second-round picks.
The Blackhawks selected Marek Vanacker and the Canes ended up with Dominik Badinka and Artamonov
“We have a good idea of where our picks could be selected and where other teams are picking and how many picks they may have throughout the draft so we’re having conversations to really make sure that we can maximize our draft chart as best we can,” Yorke said. “We saw a situation where we made a bet and it worked out great for us.”
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