Carolina Hurricanes select Timur Mukhanov with No. 163 overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft

The Carolina Hurricanes have selected center Timur Mukhanov with the No. 163 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Russian spent most of season with Omskie Krylia of the Supreme Hockey League, where he had four goals, four assists, and eight points in 31 regular season games. He also played 15 regular season games with Omskie Yastreby of the Junior Hockey League, where he had 8 goals, 9 assists and 17 points, as well as nine playoff games, where he had one goal during the team’s run to the finals before losing in six games to Chaika. He even got into a game with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League, although he was held pointless in that game.

Daily Faceoff’s own prospect expert Steven Ellis did not have Mukhanov projected to go in the first round in his mock draft of the 2023 NHL Draft, Mukhanov was selected No. 163. Ellis had this to say about him in his prospect rankings:

“At 5-foot-8, Mukhanov is undersized, but it hasn’t stopped him from producing in Russia. He’s an excellent skater, plays a dynamic two-way game, and is difficult to take the puck off despite his size. You don’t see a ton of players his size play down the middle, so expect him to move to the wing in the NHL, if he makes it.”

Mukhanov is the 8th selection by the Canes in the 2023 draft, also selecting Bradly Nadeau at No. 30 and Jayden Perron at No. 94 to name a couple of players. Barring any trades, the Canes will make their next pick in the sixth round with the No.190 overall selection.

The Hurricanes finished the 2022–23 regular season with a 52-21-9 record and 113 points in 82 games, enough to finish first in the x Division and second in the league.