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Carolina Hurricanes: This Time One Year Ago

By Joshua Ryan

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 16: Carolina Hurricanes thank their fans after a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 14, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 16: Carolina Hurricanes thank their fans after a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 14, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 21: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes adjusts his helmet during an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 21, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 21: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes adjusts his helmet during an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 21, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Lacked a True No. 1 Center

The criticism of the Hurricanes seemed to revolve, foremost, around the lack of elite talent in the middle of the ice. NHL pundits would speak to the lower end talent being asked to perform at a level they couldn’t attain; often citing this as the greatest hinderance to any path of success that the Hurricanes may travel.

This point of criticism is valid, how many teams left standing in June had elite talent at that position? Fans echoed these sentiments, often calling for management to mortgage the future to ensure that this position was set in stone. The Hurricanes did no such thing; they only had faith in their most skilled player to adapt and thrive, which he did.

Sebastian Aho had a season for the ages. Many where weary when Rod Brind’Amour made a commitment to Aho’s transition to the center of the ice. The previous head coach had tried, and been less than successful, but the guidance of this staff helped Aho deliver an 80 point campaign in just his third NHL season.

There are still questions, Aho has not fully entrenched himself as the team’s No. 1 center of the future, and his contract status is still an uncertainty, but it will be difficult to find anyone better. Could the team still grab a top-tier NHL center and move Aho to his more natural wing? It is possible, and would, perhaps, make the team even more dangerous in open ice.

The case still remains. What was a major question that plagued this team last year, has been developed into something that the Carolina Front Office has a plethora of options when attempting to solve. Aho has earned the right to challenge for that spot and has been the best Centerman in Carolina since the days of number 12.

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