It’s April, and the Carolina Hurricanes have left a familiar taste in fans’ mouths once again. They have now failed to make the playoffs for the eighth straight year after going on a franchise record 14 game point streak. However, that familiar taste may be more sweet than bitter this time.
The Hurricanes were the best team in hockey this past March, going 10-2-5. Carolina saw almost every part of their system come into motion, with Jeff Skinner running up his goal tally to now 35 and Sebastian Aho going on a career-high six game point streak. The team was hitting, passing, and scoring at will and, for the first time in a while, looked like a team that could contend.
Bill Peters’ defensive prowess as a coach was also on display, as Carolina only allowed one power play goal in March and recorded a penalty kill percentage of 82.5.
The best part of it all is that these players were drafted by the Hurricanes. Justin Faulk and Jeff Skinner were both drafted in the first two rounds of the 2010 NHL draft and are playing the best hockey of their career.
In fact, every player drafted by the Hurricanes in the first two rounds over the past five years made a significant impact in the second half of this season. This success is beginning to prove Ron Francis‘ draft decisions.
The young back line rotations were blocking shots and clearing the puck on power plays. Defenseman Ryan Murphy began to put his game together, while fellow defender Noah Hanifin netted his first career overtime goal. Both have been imperative to Carolina’s penalty kill success and allowed the wings to play more on the attack. On the other side of the ice, Sebastian Aho is currently third in rookie scoring and Elias Lindholm has posted the best season of his career with 34 assists so far.
The Hurricane’s teamwork was exceptional as well, with many goals in the point streak coming off designed plays and faceoffs. Younger players are connecting with older players, creating a group of guys that understand the game plan. One of the youngest teams in the NHL finally put it all together and gave fans a sign of hope despite missing the postseason.
It is unfortunate that Carolina found this momentum so late in the season but it should give the coaching staff a lot to work with going into the summer. If these young players are able to improve off this late season success, the potential seems endless for the Hurricanes. Couple that with the excellent play of both Eddie Lack and Cam Ward in goal and the Canes can come into 2017 with one of the fastest and fiercest teams in the NHL.