Our Hurricanes vs. Wild predictions and NHL picks for Thursday, February 6 like two strong defenses to do their jobs.

Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2025 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the project and its criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 32 to No. 1. The series, which includes in-depth evaluations and insight from sources on nearly 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7.

Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, the team here at Last Word on Hockey will dive deep into analysis for any game to give you the scoop on what elements can change the outcome.

In a three-team blockbuster NHL trade, the Carolina Hurricanes added two key forwards from Colorado and Chicago.

Analyzing Tuesday’s Carolina Hurricanes at Winnipeg Jets odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The NHL slate on Thursday includes a game between the Carolina Hurricanes (32-18-4) and the Minnesota Wild (31-19-4), starting at 7:30 PM ET at Xcel Energy Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Hurricanes are second in the Eastern Conference and the Wild are fifth in the Western Conference.