The Canes have one of the most underrated young defenders in the NHL on the roster. Jaccob Slavin has established himself as not only the best at his position for Carolina, but also maybe the best player on the entire team.
Slavin is the type of defender that can shut down the best of opposing star forwards. The Canes have wins over both the Maple Leafs and Oilers largely because Slavin held both McDavid and Matthews in check overall.
The offensive prowess that Slavin possesses is starting to come to the forefront of late. He’s the only defender on the Canes that has multiple goals. And, he’s starting to get some exposure in terms of how effective he is at leading the breakout from the defensive zone.
Slavin is a great first line defender for Peters. He’s a reliable defender that Peters should have the confidence to put him in any situation. If he can continue developing his offensive tools, he could be a real player in the running for the Norris Trophy in coming seasons.