2019 saw the glorious end of the Carolina Hurricanes 10 Year playoff drought, and a return to relevance for the franchise. That return was necessitated by the impact of key Hurricanes who will, no doubt, be relied upon for years to come.
What a year it has been. The postseason surge of the Carolina Hurricanes was one for the ages that provided both the joy of the underdog, the elation of victory, and the crushing agony of defeat.
This is one to remember for Canes fans as the organization begins to cement the foundation for seasons to come.
But before we are quick to close the book on this incredible postseason run, we should first heap praise upon the players that carried our team so far. There were many facets of the game that went our way, but these players showed the fans, and the NHL world, what being a Carolina Hurricane is all about.
Congrats to the @NHLCanes on a fabulous season. Their fans standing on their feet for the final minutes gave me chills. What a year for them! Awesome!!!
— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) May 17, 2019
It seems like nearly every player contributed in one way or another. Some underperformed and some over achieved; and this run should be noted for the teamwork that was necessary to achieve it. Success as a team is what gets you to the Eastern Conference Finals, but players giving their all and owning their game is what allows that to happen seamlessly.
With that, we dissect the Top 5 most important players of the 2019 playoff run.