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Top 5 Carolina Hurricanes Who Could Have a Breakout Season in 2019-20

By Matthew Nidiffer

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 24: Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime with Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Justin Faulk (27) and Carolina Hurricanes Center Jordan Staal (11) during a game between the Montreal Canadiens at the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on March 24, 2019. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 24: Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime with Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Justin Faulk (27) and Carolina Hurricanes Center Jordan Staal (11) during a game between the Montreal Canadiens at the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on March 24, 2019. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 20: Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 20: Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Erik Haula

Erik Haula is a special addition to this list. After sustaining a knee injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs in November 2018 that had him sidelined for the remainder of the 2018-19 season, Haula is poised and ready to make a comeback.

Haula scored 29 goals and 26 assists for a combined 55 points in 76 games played in the 2017-18 regular season. In the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Haula scored 3 goals and 6 assists in the 20 playoff games the Vegas Golden Knights played on their path to the Stanley Cup Final.

Haula is a dynamic, intelligent player who has both playmaking and scoring skill in droves. I personally believe Haula is the coveted 2nd Line Center that the Hurricanes seem to have been searching for since 2009.

Coupled with players like Nino Niederreiter, Andrei Svechnikov, Ryan Dzingel, or Teuvo Teravainen, Haula has both the skills and the opportunity to open the scoring floodgates and let the goals pour in, especially on the powerplay.

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