Badinka’s first full AHL season is a study in patience. Six goals and eleven points won’t generate fantasy interest right now, but the plus-four from a twenty-year-old in his first North American pro season is meaningful context. He brings the size and mobility Carolina values on the back end, came over from the SHL logging real minutes as a teenager, and is doing the foundational work expected of a second-round defender at this stage. The offensive ceiling is still unclear, but there’s enough here to stay patient. Nobody would be surprised to see Badinka carve out the kind of role Jalen Chatfield or Joel Nystrom has played for Carolina – a reliable, low-maintenance presence who earns trust through structure and compete.

Badinka is enjoying a decent start to his first full season in the AHL, skating in 14 games and adding three goals and an assist. The soon-to-be 20 year old was a steady and reliable presence for the Malmo Redhawks in the SHL as a teenager, and is adapting well to North American hockey. He isn’t being given any special teams time with the Chicago Wolves, but is finding a way to put a shot and a half on net per game, and is pacing for a 20 point AHL rookie campaign.

These aren’t exciting offensive numbers for a shallower league, or a points-only one, but Badinka will have value in leagues where his two-way game and supplementary scoring are appreciated. He is absolutely stash-and-watch worthy.

Badinka was released from his contract with Malmo in the SHL, and he joined the Hurricanes AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, on April 14, 2025. In 57 games this season, he had two goals and three assists for five points. While the offensive potential didn’t flash this season, he has had good moments of pinching at the right time and making the right pass. Defensively, he shines, which is why he was able to play an entire season of SHL hockey and continue playing important playoff games. After arriving in North America, he played two regular-season and one postseason game with the Wolves.

June 2024The first player that the Carolina Hurricanes took in the 2024 NHL draft, Badinka is a smooth-skating, highly intelligent right-handed defenseman who split time between the SHL with the Malmo Redhawks and the J20 Nationell. Badinka’s offensive game was evident during his time in the J20, but his defensive game kept him playing meaningful minutes at the SHL level. Nick Bass