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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 MVP’s of the 2017-18 season

By Andrew Miller

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 08: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at the United Center on March 8, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 08: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at the United Center on March 8, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 4: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during an NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 4, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 4: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during an NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 4, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

109. Pick Analysis. player. Defenseman. Carolina Hurricanes. Jaccob Slavin. 3. Scouting Report

The offensive contributions are one of the least significant portions of what Carolina’s top defensive pairing of Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce bring to the table. Slavin is the team’s third leading scorer, among all defensemen. However, he’s most valued in the other end of the ice.

Pesce and Slavin are counted on by head coach Bill Peters to lock down the opposition’s top offensive threats night after night, and they’re great at what they do. However, both Slavin and Pesce have contributed a bit more offensively from the blue line this season too.

Of both of those two valuable defensemen, the Canes really could not do without Slavin. He does have six more points than Pesce this season, and he’s played in more games. A concussion earlier in the year sidelined Pesce for a bit of time, and that can happen to any player.

Yet, the durability and overall reliability that Slavin provides the Canes on a game-to-game basis brings value that is matched by no one else on the team. With a down season from co-captain defenseman Justin Faulk, Slavin’s positive contributions mean that much more.

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