The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 17-year-old prospect forward Felix Unger Sörum to a three-year entry-level contract. Per the team announcement, the deal carries a $775k cap hit, $82.5k AHL salary, and a $255k signing bonus.
Hurricanes GM Don Waddell issued a short statement as part of the team’s release:
Felix is a dynamic playmaker with great offensive instincts. He was one of the youngest players in the draft, and we’re excited to see how he continues to improve and develop.
The Hurricanes selected Unger Sörum 62nd overall at the 2023 draft, one of the final picks of the second round. Born September 14, 2005, had Unger Sörum been born just two days later he would have been ineligible for the 2023 draft and instead would have been a 2024 draft prospect.
The right-shot forward spent most of last season with Leksands IF in the J20 Nationell, meaning he was playing junior hockey in his native Sweden. He was very productive at that level, scoring 46 points in 42 games. He even earned seven games with Leksands’ senior team in the SHL, an impressive feat for a player so young.
Unger Sörum also impressed at the international level, especially at the U18 Worlds. He raised his draft stock in a ten-day span in late April, posting 10 points in seven games as Sweden nearly took home the gold medal.
Although scouts were somewhat divided on where Unger Sörum’s place was among the draft’s better prospects (he ranked 85th in Bob McKenzie’s final ranking for TSN, but 53rd in the final rankings of McKenzie’s TSN colleague, Craig Button) the Hurricanes clearly believe in Unger Sörum’s pro potential, and have now invested in him even more by signing him to this entry-level deal at a relatively early stage in his professional developmental process.
Although this entry-level deal does formally enter Unger Sörum into the Hurricanes organization, he’s almost certain to continue his development overseas with Leksands. As a second-round pick the NHL-SHL transfer agreement does not dictate priority to the Hurricanes in deciding where Unger Sörum develops outside the NHL.
Since he’s most definitely not yet ready for an NHL role, he’s highly likely to end up continuing to play with Leksands with the hope of making a push for a regular role on their SHL roster.
One half of The Odd Couple
And the Hurricanes will shortly announce that they have signed Oscar Madison.
“We’re all out of cornflakes. F.U.” Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!” – Oscar Madison
Without a doubt, best name in the game. Seems unusual for them to sign a 17 year old to an entry contract, so I have a feeling he must have potential.