Today’s Daily Cup of Joe offers up a small collection of basic Carolina Hurricanes statistics.
Sebastian Aho rising
After a slow start that saw Sebastian Aho net only six points in 12 games in October, Aho is suddenly on pace for the same point per game that he had in 2018-19. Further, his recent pace is much higher with 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 games in November and a massive 7 goals and 4 assists in 7 games in December. He is suddenly on pace for 48 goals which eclipse Eric Staal’s Hurricanes record of 45 goals in 2005-06. Interestingly, Staal did that in his third professional season. This is similarly Aho’s third professional season.
Teuvo Teravainen chasing Carolina Hurricanes’ assist record
With 27 assists in 34 games, Teuvo Teravainen is on pace for 65 assists. Since the team became the Hurricanes in 1997, the single season best for assists is none other than Rod Brind’Amour who had 56 in 2006-07. Teravainen has a really good chance to set a new mark if he can stay healthy.
Dougie Hamilton having a season for the ages
On pace for 29 goals and 82 points, Dougie Hamilton is having a season for the ages so far. Even a reasonable slowdown could see him set franchise marks for both for a defenseman. At plus 20 through 34 games, Hamilton is on pace to challenge Brett Pesce’s franchise best plus 35 in 2018-19.
Andrei Svechnikov aiming for best season still on an entry-level contract
Through 34 games, Svechnikov’s scoring pace is roughly a point per game. Eric Staal reached 100 points in 2005-06 in his third professional season (second in the NHL after the 2004-05 was canceled because of the lockout). Aho had 83 points in his third professional season. If Svechnikov can continue at his current pace, he would be in the neighborhood of Aho’s point per game pace. If he could find a slightly higher gear, the rarefied air of 100 points suddenly comes into range. Worth noting is that Svechnikov is a year younger than Staal who did it three years after his draft year and two years younger than Aho who did it in his fourth year after being drafted.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Which Carolina Hurricanes scoring records are most likely to fall?
2) Of the four players highlighted above, which are most likely to maintain their current pace? Which are most likely to slow a bit?
3) What other scoring or other paces do you see for the 2019-20 Carolina Hurricanes?
Go Canes!
Aho’s production is going up exponentially this season – which means you can’t use an arithmetic extrapolation! LOL! BTW, this is his 4th season – time flies when you have a young All-Star.
That said, I don’t think this is sustainable – but that said, suddenly the Canes have all sorts of weapons and opponents cannot key on one or two and dare lessers to beat them.
I think Svech has been the most consistent and as he continues to get better I would not be surprised to see him meet the high end of your target.
Turbo will almost assuredly beat the record – it will be fun watching the others’ try.
Without knowing what the number is, I most want to see the Canes earn the record of most points in the Standings for a single season.
Looking back at ‘05-‘06, E Staal was the only hurricane over 82 points. Having 4 players on a 82 pt trajectory as we approach the halfway mark is really incredible. I hope they all make it and capture the records as described.
Svech has been the most consistent, but as long as he is on a line with J Staal and Foegs, his line mates need to dial it in for him to continue at that pace. If the last two games are indicative, it is a good sign.
Similarly, for Turbo to get the assist record he needs to keep playing with Aho a lot. And for Aho to keep the trajectory, he probably needs to keep skating with Turbo.
Exchange Svech and Turbo in the lineup and the projections / dependencies change accordingly.
At the end of the day, that stuff is fun but doesn’t much matter. I am with surgalt – the points accumulated are most important. And the real fun starts.