This summer, CardiacCane will be counting down the greatest Carolina Hurricanes players of all-time, ranking them from number 50 to number 1.
Starting June 1st, we will be unveiling our list of the best Canes players ever, ordering them from 1 to 50. The players ranked 50 through 26 will be unveiled in June, then the top 25 in July and August.
Our list was complied from the personal lists of all of our contributors. Each player ranking was averaged between all the lists to make one truly definitive Carolina Hurricanes all-time player list.
#49 – Sebastian Aho
In most NHL drafts, the chances of picking game changing players become pretty slim after picks 15 to 20. Even more so after the 1st round concludes. Through some brilliant scouting and perhaps a decent helping of luck, the Hurricanes hit the jackpot selecting Sebastian Aho in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft.
Carolina Hurricanes
His rookie season was something very special. In a year full of rookie standouts, the young Finn managed to score the 3rd most goals in the league among rookies, trailing only the world class talents of Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews. He also finished 5th in rookie scoring last season. In regards to Hurricanes history, Aho put together one of the best rookie seasons in Carolina history. Only Jeff Skinner scored more goals and assists in their first year.
Besides his offensive skills, Aho exhibits the mental toughness and will to win that few players so visually possess. The kid is a fearless competitor, always willing to push through adversity either for himself or for his teammates. Even as a teenager, he is a proven champion, winning junior championship for Finland and his former club Karpat.
What really puts him on this list is his elite hockey sense. Aho thinks the game as well as anyone on this list, except maybe Ron Francis. It is because of this that Aho is able to overcome being slightly undersized and such an effective player.
Next: Carolina Hurricanes All-Time List: #50 Andrej Sekera
Perhaps more so than any Hurricane on this list, Aho has the most upward mobility. He has the potential to crack the top 20, 10, or maybe even 5. He is that good of a player. It may be presumptuous sure, but 19 year old rookie Sebastian Aho deserves a spot in the top 50 greatest Carolina Hurricanes players.