With an exciting but ultimately underwhelming end to the 2016 season, the Carolina Hurricanes have no issues surrounding the roster this off-season. General manager Ron Francis has done a great job cleaning house and compiling a roster that can actually win games.
A huge reason for this success is the key defenders Carolina has been able to get and retain, creating an offensive blue line that is masterful on the penalty kill. Another facet in 2017 will be newly signed goaltender Scott Darling, who brings a .924 save percentage and playoff experience.
Arguably one of the quietest factors of Carolina’s success, however, is the nationality of their players.
The Hurricanes had five Swedish players listed on their roster in the 2016 season. This squad was comprised of forwards Elias Lindholm, Victor Rask and Joakim Nordstrom, defenseman Klas Dahlbeck, and goalie Eddie Lack.
Carolina found somewhat of a groove this season and three of these Swedish players had everything to do with that.
Elias Lindholm completed one of the best seasons in his career in 2016-2017. Lindholm recorded 45 points and logged 353 faceoff wins, both career highs. He also led the team on their franchise-long 14-game point streak towards the end of the season, forming into a central player that could spread the puck and advance the play.
This is what has been hoped for Lindholm when he was drafted No. 5 overall in 2013, and the blossoming of his offensive game was the progress Francis wanted to see.
Victor Rask started off hot in 2016 but struggled to maintain his form after the All-Star break. Rask recorded 16 goals and a career-high 29 assists in 2016-2017. His value came in his time on the ice, as he did not miss one game this season. He also ranked fifth on the team with 2.7 offensive point shares, which is the number of points contributed to a player due to their individual offense.
Rask is a leader in the locker room, being listed as an alternate captain this past year, and his reliability allows the coaches to always have a player they can go to at wing. His durability and leadership are more valuable than his statistics, as that kind of consistency is needed within a unit.
Goalie Eddie Lack became one of the most popular players on the team, as his heroics helped propel Carolina’s point streak. His stats are not truly indicative of his play, only appearing in 20 games this season due to injuries at the beginning and end of the season. He posted a .902 save percentage and an 8-7-3 record.
Lack made some huge saves in the games he did play in and proved to be the backup Carolina needs. His goofy and outgoing attitude make him even more likable and a fully healthy season would only show fans more of the good things they saw in those 20 games.
These three players boosted the Hurricanes’ play tremendously this past season and they all played integral parts in the team’s success. The Swedes were rolling and look to stay hot as all three are signed through next year.
Joakim Nordstrom has yet to find his form in Carolina after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring only 17 goals in two season with the team. Nordstrom has plenty of experienced players to lend his ear to, like Jeff Skinner and Jordan Staal, to help increase his quality of play.
Klas Dahlbeck finished top 10 on the team in blocks and hits and he quietly played his role as a defender. His talents may not stand out as much due to the already star-studded blueline the Hurricanes hold but he does not need to turn into a superstar, but rather continue to do his job and keep opposing players away from the crease.
Player nationalities mean more than some people think and a majority of Carolina’s success is coming from Swedish, Finnish, and Canadian players. One of the things that makes hockey so great is its ability to bring the world together. People from every corner of the world come out to represent people from their country, and that isn’t something you get in every sport.
Keep an eye out of the connections that develop between all these different players and their respective countries.