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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 Most Important Players of the Postseason Surge

By Joshua Ryan

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 03: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11), Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74), and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) congratulate Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) after scoring his 100th playoff point during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders on March 3, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 03: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11), Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74), and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) congratulate Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) after scoring his 100th playoff point during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders on March 3, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes warm up prior to Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Washington Capitals during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes warm up prior to Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Washington Capitals during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Honorable Mentions

Although there may be 5 players who truly distinguished themselves throughout these playoffs, there were some who just missed out on some puck luck. These players where crucial to the success of this team, so it would be unfair not to make mention of their contribution.

Jordan Staal

The Playoffs is where Jordan Staal truly shines. Many fans will remember the shot that beat Washington, one of many game changing moments provided by Staal in that series., and one of his two game winning goals. Known for his defensive prowess and physical, imposing frame, Staal proved to the Caniacs of the world that he will always show up when we need him most.

Staal unfortunately fell into the same trap this postseason that he does in the regular season; he has difficulty finding offense consistently. this should not overshadow what he was able to do early in the playoffs, and the season would have ended in the first round without his presence.

Warren Foegle

Foegle came to play this postseason. Watching him hustle for every neutral zone dump became a common occurrence, and consistently put his team in good position in the offensive zone. Him, Greg McKegg, and Brock McGinn brought the hustle in nearly every series these playoffs.

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He scored meaningful points and played so well that many forgot that he was in fact a rookie. Being a rookie seems to be what kept Foegle from having the same impact in the Boston series. He was fatigued, as was the entire team, and just couldn’t replicate the Foeg-Magic we saw in the first two series

Sebastian Aho

Taking one look at the scorecard should lead many to assume that Sebastian Aho would be somewhere on this list. But to give Aho a place in the top 5 would be to take a spot away from some of the more consistent and impactful contributors. Still, Aho provided the offensive punch that has come to define his short tenure with the Hurricanes.

When the season was hanging in the balance, many looked to Aho as the team’s most talented player. Inexperience seems to have stolen his opportunity to truly take over games in the way one would expect from such a skilled player. Yet, he was a necessary contributing factor to the success during the postseason run.

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