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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 most important players for Playoff run in 2017-18

ByAndrew Miller|
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 17: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the Edmonton Oilers on October 17, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 17: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the Edmonton Oilers on October 17, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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WINNIPEG, MB – OCTOBER 14: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot on goal during the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 14, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This marks the 500th game of Skinner’s NHL career. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – OCTOBER 14: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot on goal during the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 14, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This marks the 500th game of Skinner’s NHL career. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Jeff Skinner Left Wing

Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes

Scouting Report

Jeff Skinner is the best player on the Carolina roster. Nearing 40 goals last season solidified his spot as the most important player on the team as well. Skinner is nearing the pinnacle of his career and could be in for the best production of his career.

The skill and natural scoring touch of Skinner gives the Canes something that really no other player on this team can, and that’s the aspect of changing any game in the blink of an eye. Skinner already showed that ability against the Flames, Jets, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Five games into the season, Skinner already leads the Canes in goals with three. The prospect of reaching the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career is a very real possibility. He’ll need support from the rest of the team, though.

Next: 3 reasons Slavin could win the Norris

Skinner has never made it to the playoffs with the Canes before. Carolina made a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2008-09 season, just two years before Skinner made his NHL debut.

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