Jaccob Slavin
The second “c” stands for great American player. Jaccob Slavin has been one of the most underrated players in the league. There is a reason for that. In his four years in the league, it wasn’t until last season that he made a playoff appearance and then suddenly the entire league is asking where did this talent come from. Spoiler alert, it was always there.
Slavin is probably one of the best defender on one of the best contracts in the NHL. This is a man who can wow the fanbase on both ends of the ice. Playing excellent defense and thwarting even the most skilled and fastest players in the league while also showing off a cannon of a shot from the point that seems to go in whenever the Hurricanes need it to the most.
He is also a staple of one of the best Penalty Killing units in the league. Without him the Carolina Hurricanes would never have sniffed the offseason last year, let alone the Eastern Conference Finals. But great defense isn’t the only thing he delivers.
Jaccob Slavin is also a natural leader on and off the ice. When Jordan Staal was hurt, it was Slavin that who earned the “A” in his stead. There are even those who are calling for Slavin to earn the captaincy if and when Justin Williams retires. He truly sets the standard of what defensive play in for the Carolina Hurricanes should look like.