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Carolina Hurricanes: 2018-2019 Player Power Rankings

ByMatthew Nidiffer|
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 06: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate their 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 06, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 06: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate their 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 06, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 30: Dougie Hamilton #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with teammates Andrei Svechnikov #37, Brock McGinn #23, Jordan Staal #11 and Jaccob Slavin #74 during an NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 30, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 30: Dougie Hamilton #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with teammates Andrei Svechnikov #37, Brock McGinn #23, Jordan Staal #11 and Jaccob Slavin #74 during an NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 30, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

A Solid Foundation: 10-8

Andrei Svechnikov has evolved drastically over the course of the season. During the preseason and the early stages of the regular season, Svechnikov was visibly timid during his transition into the NHL, but the young forward has since put that perspective to bed.

Svechnikov has been a huge part of the New Year turnaround, scoring 18 of his 37 points in 2019. Andrei has developed into an extremely talented offensive player with the capability to play a highly physical brand of hockey. Andrei Svechnikov has the capability to be a game-changer in the playoffs. I have no doubt in my mind that he will deliver.

Curtis McElhinney has had an incredible season. The journeyman goaltender was claimed by the Hurricanes off waivers from Toronto in the preseason, and that move has proven to be an absolute steal on the Hurricanes’ part.

McElhinney by no means belongs this low on this list, as he has had a huge hand in the Hurricanes’ success this season. With a team this talented, however, it is extremely difficult to fit everyone into what should be a Top 5 spot. While Petr Mrazek has proven to be a bona fide starter, he and the Hurricanes can rest easy knowing McElhinney will be the one backing him up this postseason.

Jaccob Slavin has been phenomenal this season. Slavin is yet another pick in this Power Ranking list that hasn’t made a superstar impact on the scoresheet, but has made tremendous impact in other areas of the game.

https://twitter.com/NHLCanes/status/1105290796230676480

Slavin has, at times, shown an unparalleled level of ‘Hockey IQ’, and may as well have been a second goaltender on the ice beside Petr Mrazek or Curtis McElhinney. Jaccob Slavin is an excellent defensemen, and is a significant reason why the Hurricanes are headed to the playoffs.

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