The Carolina Hurricanes are in the midst of an excellent run of form, and are scoring goals for fun as they chase a playoff spot. Today, we look at which players are approaching significant milestones in their careers.
This Carolina Hurricanes team is a young one, especially in comparison to many other NHL franchises who have players passing huge milestones on a regular basis. The best players on this Canes team are much closer to the beginning of their careers than the end, and so our boys aren’t reaching the more lofty milestones any time soon. They are, however, quietly making their way up the scoring charts, and inscribing their names deeper into franchise history.
Let’s take a look at which Carolina Hurricanes players are approaching key milestones.
Goals
There are only three active NHL players who have scored more than 100 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes; Justin Williams became the third this season and now sits on 110 goals for the team, in addition to 192 elsewhere in his career.
Next to the 100-goal milestone, and just the 10th 100-goal scorer in franchise history, will undoubtedly be Sebastian Aho. He currently sits on 75 goals, two behind defenseman Justin Faulk. Jordan Staal has 91 goals for the team (plus 120 for the Penguins) but, with his future uncertain due to his concussion, no Canes fan would bet against Aho beating him to the century. After those three, the only player with more than 30 goals for the Canes is Teuvo Teravainen, with 49 (and 66 for his career).
Assists
Teuvo Teravainen posted his 100th assist for the Carolina Hurricanes in the team’s last game, setting up Dougie Hamilton‘s goal against the Vancouver Canucks. Sebastian Aho has 96 assists and will reach a century this month. The only other player who may reach the 100 assist milestone this season is defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who has 87 assists.
Points
Justin Williams sits on 280 points for the Canes, so could potentially reach 300 if he has a good run of form. Sebastian Aho will reach 200 points, needing just 29, but that is your lot. Teuvo Teravainen needs just 7 points to reach 200 for his career, which he’ll obviously notch well before Jordan Staal posts the 7 points he needs to reach the 500-mark for his career. In fact, it’s now looking more likely that this season’s big UFA addition, Calvin de Haan, posts the 8 points he needs for 100 than Staal does his 7.
Games Played
Provided he stays healthy, Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins will be Justin Williams’ 400th in a Carolina Hurricanes jersey. Jaccob Slavin will reach 300 career games this season too, as he sits on 277 currently. And who knows – perhaps Haydn Fleury can eke out a roster spot and play the 21 games he needs to reach 100, and make a case for a future roster spot?
More likely is that Lucas Wallmark plays the 31 games he needs to reach the same mark before Fleury does. We’ll also see Dougie Hamilton reach 500 GP this season, having just watched Nino Niederreiter do the same, and Jordan Martinook will play his 300th career game in that Penguins game. That’s a nice way to celebrate his contract extension and new addition to the family.
And will Carolina Hurricanes fans get to see Micheal Ferland‘s 300th career game? He needs nine more appearances, which would take him a week away from the trade deadline. Don Waddell still needs to make his mind up about whether to keep him or not – who would want that decision?
Not only do Carolina Hurricanes fans have a playoff race to look forward to, but they also have several milestones to cheer for. Sebastian Aho will reach 100 assists and 200 points this season, and will do his darndest to reach 100 goals as well. Captain Justin Williams will become the 17th player to play 400 games for the Carolina Hurricanes. But none of these milestones would compare with the Carolina Hurricanes achieving the most important milestone: ending their nine-year playoff drought.