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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 reasons Zykov-Aho-Teravainen line can be league’s best

By Andrew Miller

The Carolina Hurricanes' Valentin Zykov, left, skates back to the bench with Teuvo Teravainen (86) after he scored during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The Canes won, 6-5. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News
The Carolina Hurricanes' Valentin Zykov, left, skates back to the bench with Teuvo Teravainen (86) after he scored during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The Canes won, 6-5. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News /
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The Carolina Hurricanes’ Valentin Zykov, left, skates back to the bench with Teuvo Teravainen (86) after he scored during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The Canes won, 6-5. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News
The Carolina Hurricanes’ Valentin Zykov, left, skates back to the bench with Teuvo Teravainen (86) after he scored during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The Canes won, 6-5. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News /

The most productive line for the Carolina Hurricanes got an added spark when Russian winger Valentin Zykov joined the party.

Two of the best young players in the entire organization for the Carolina Hurricanes right now are the Finnish wing duo of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Both Aho and Teravainen are also the leading scorers for the Canes this season. Add upstart rookie forward Valentin Zykov to the mix, and the Canes have a very scary top line come the start of the 2018-19 regular season.

Adding a few points to his stat line for the season in the past two contests, Aho now leads the team in points overall, with 62. Teravainen is only one point behind Aho in that regard, with 61. Aho also leads the team in goals this season with 26. Teravainen is tied with Carolina assistant captain Jeff Skinner for second on the team in goals, with 23.

Considering Aho and Teravainen are both having career seasons, and only look to improve from here, they’re a threat to spearhead a premier top forward line in the league next season. The line centered by co-captain Jordan Staal, with Aho and Teravainen, already formed a great top line for the Canes for most of the 2017-18 campaign.

The one player the fans have not seen much of yet is Zykov. He’s spent most of the year with the Charlotte Checkers, as a leading scorer in the AHL. He should have gotten the call earlier in the season, but that’s in the rear view mirror now.

Here’s a look at five reasons why the Carolina Hurricanes forward line of Valentin Zykov, Sebastian Aho, and Teuvo Teravainen, could potentially develop into the NHL’s best trio.

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