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Carolina Hurricanes: Can Teravainen Outscore Aho?

By Jared Ellis

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 18: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammate Sebastian Aho #20 in 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: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammate Sebastian Aho #20 in 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) /
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With the 2019-2020 season right around the corner, a big question is if Teuvo Teravainen can outscore the face of the Carolina Hurricanes, Sebastian Aho.

This off-season has seemingly lasted for an eternity. It has had its highs and lows. It is now time to put that behind us, and look ahead to the 2019-2020 season and ask who will be the number one scorer for the Carolina Hurricanes this season. Looking at the stats from the past few seasons, there are two players that have been at the top of the scoring chart. Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravianen, with Aho having the top spot. Could the upcoming 2019-2020 season be the season Teuvo takes that spot from him?

First lets take a look at what Aho has done.

  • 2016-2017: 49 points ( 24 goals and 25 assists)
  • 2017-2018: 65 points (29 goals and 36 assists)
  • 2018-2019: 83 points (30 goals and 53 assists)
    • Postseason: 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists)

Aho’s scoring has been increasing every season he has been in the NHL, and I’d expect that upwards trend to continue for the all-star center. Especially since he just signed that fat new contract and would want to prove all the doubters wrong. He’s proved himself to be able to score goals.

Last season, Aho had the most ice time out of all the Carolina Hurricanes’ forwards with 1,652 total minutes and an average of 20:09. That does give him a slight edge over Teuvo, who had 1,469 total minutes and an average of 17:55.

However, just because Teuvo had less ice time that doesn’t mean that he isn’t putting up good numbers as well. Let’s see what he’s accomplished. (I am including his time in Chicago in this to fully illustrate his rise into the star player he is becoming.)

  • 2013-2014: 0 points
  • 2014-2015: 9 points (4 goals and 5 assists)
    • Postseason: 10 points (4 goals and 6 assists) Stanley Cup victory
  • 2015-2016: 35 points (13 goals and 22 assists)
    • Postseason: 1 point (1 assist)
  • 2016-2017: 42 points (15 goals and 27 assists)
  • 2017-2018: 64 points (23 goals and 41 assists)
  • 2018-2019: 76 points (21 goals and 55 assists)
    • Postseason: 10 points (7 goals and 3 assists)

Like Aho, Teuvo has been on an upwards trajectory every year he’s been in the league, both with Chicago and Carolina. I defiantly expect this trend to continue.

While Aho has more ice time, one thing that Teuvo does have on Aho is playoff experience. He’s been to the top of the mountain before with the Blackhawks, and he was able to put the puck in the back of the net more than Aho this past post-season, which could potentiality continue to the upcoming 2019- 2020 season. He has also logged more assists than his teammate every season that Aho has been in the league.

With Justin Williams not on the roster at the start of the season, both should see an increased role on the ice. Since both forwards have grown to be proven scorers, this should result in them putting even more pucks past the opposing goalie.

Personally, I see them being neck and neck all season, with them trading the number one and two spots. Come crunch time at the end of the end of the regular season, I expect the puck to go to whoever is on a better hot streak; going off of last season, the closer it got to the end of the regular season, the better Teuvo was producing.

So if that’s anything to go off of, I think that coupled with him always keeping it close, Teuvo could stand a chance at taking that number one spot from Aho. But in the end, Aho has shown himself to be able to score more goals. So, I’m going to say that Aho will outscore Tuevo… barely.

Next. Justin Williams Taking A Break From NHL. dark

Question for CC readers: Who do you think will be the number one scorer for the Hurricanes this season?

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