The Carolina Hurricanes’ Defense is a Budding Juggernaut

The Top Pairing

Note: stats are currently through 10/11 game versus the Islanders.

*Denotes team leader

Jaccob Slavin is continuing his ascent as an elite defenseman.  Early on, he ranks second on the team in blocked shots and is tied for second in hits.  Slavin has also continued to build on the offensive aspect of his game, adding timely goal-scoring while maintaining his high level of defensive awareness.

A great example of this was seen against New York when he pinned an Islander forward against the boards.  Slavin read the offensive player’s positioning and used his left skate to prevent the forward from getting the puck to a teammate.  Instead, the Carolina Hurricanes were able to clear the puck and diffuse the attack before it could get started.

The best display of his offense came in overtime against Tampa Bay.  Slavin, lingering at center ice, jumped in on a 2-on-1 with Jordan Staal before one-timing a terrific pass from the captain past Curtis McElhinney, giving the Hurricanes their third win of the season.

The 2018-19 season started slowly for Dougie Hamilton.  A lingering injury and the early adjustments to a new team kept the offensive-minded rearguard from hitting his full potential.  As the Hurricanes began their ascent in the standings, Hamilton’s play picked up dramatically, a trend that has carried into the new season.

Leading the defense with 7 points, Hamilton has shown the poise and skill befitting his first-round pick status.  Not only has he been popping in goals with regularity, but his passing and vision have contributed to the Hurricanes’ power play being rejuvenated.  He has demonstrated great patience and precision with the puck, best evidenced by the pass he made to Teuvo Teravainen against the Islanders:

The combination of Slavin and Hamilton gives the Carolina Hurricanes a top pairing with the size, speed, two-way acumen, and skill necessary to thrive in today’s NHL.  Slavin’s offensive game is blossoming, complimenting his rock-solid defensive play while Hamilton, who has always possessed an offensive gift, is ironing out the defensive deficiencies that have shown up in the past.  This pairing has the ability to be devastating, shutting down the opposition while generating chances for the Hurricanes.

The Second Pairing

Note: stats are currently through 10/11 game versus the Islanders.

*Denotes team leader

Joel Edmundson wasn’t brought in for his offensive contributions.  Instead, the 26-year-old blueliner brings Stanley Cup experience and a solid, defense-first style.  He’s also shown some great passing skills early on, both in offensive zone setup and breakouts.  Save for his hiccup against the Panthers, Edmundson has played very well for his new team and meshes well with his new partner on defense.

Brett Pesce, coming off of his best offensive season to date, has resumed his status as a defensively reliable player with some offensive flair.  While I am more than a bit surprised that he has yet to be credited with a hit, there’s no denying that Pesce has great defensive instincts and he uses his 6’3″ frame to make life as difficult as possible for opposing players.

On the offensive side, Pesce has shown intelligence in jumping into the play to ensure that he doesn’t put his team at a disadvantage.  There’s more offense in his game to be had, and Pesce has done a great job of tapping into it without forcing anything.  Take a look at the goal that he netted against the Islanders:

https://twitter.com/Hurricanes_US/status/1182813135809499136

This pairing has racked up the highest amount of ice time on the PK and, while the Hurricanes shorthanded unit hasn’t been flawless, much of that can be chalked up to overuse.  As of the writing of this article, the Hurricanes rank as the most penalized team in the NHL, a trend that Rod Brind’Amour is no doubt addressing.

While not as flashy as the top pairing, the Pesce/Edmundson combo has the potential to be one of the best shutdown pairings in the league.  They possess size, mobility, situational awareness, and enough offensive ability to be a threat.  A large part of the Carolina Hurricanes finding success this year will hinge on how well these two perform.

The Third Pairing

Note: stats are currently through 10/11 game versus the Islanders.

*Denotes team leader

Jake Gardiner, added in early September, is an established offensive defenseman who brings more balance to the Hurricanes blueline.  Having a defender of Gardiner’s ability on the third pairing speaks volumes to the depth that Carolina has, and his passing and skating have already paid dividends.  Want visual confirmation?  Take a look at his overtime winner against the Washington Capitals:

Gardiner also gives the Carolina Hurricanes increased flexibility on the power play.  While he’s seen a lot of top unit time, trailing only Hamilton in terms of power-play ice time, he could also be deployed on the second unit to spread the offense around.  This presents the welcome flexibility that Carolina lacked for years.

Haydn Fleury has played amiably so far in the young season, albeit with minimal ice time.  He’s kept up with the pace and done everything that he’s been tasked with, certainly no complaints about a number 6/7 defender.  Unfortunately for Fleury, his spot is likely to move from the former to the latter soon as the Carolina Hurricanes have officially activated Trevor van Riemsdyk.

van Riemsdyk, who underwent shoulder surgery in early May, will likely be eased back into the lineup, though his return adds more depth to a blueline that’s already scary.  Now, my guess that Fleury becomes the odd man out is only speculation, but I have reason to believe that, and not because he hasn’t played well.  So, what is it?

Final Thoughts

Okay, why is it that I think Haydn Fleury becomes the #7 once Trevor van Riemsdyk re-enters the lineup?  Obviously, Slavin, Pesce, and Hamilton aren’t coming out.  Edmundson has played very well so far and made a very formidable pairing along with Pesce.  That leaves Gardiner and Fleury.  While I don’t like to play the game of “they’re not paying him to sit in the press box (or minors)”, Gardiner was not brought in to be a #7, nor has his play dictated such.

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Should van Riemsdyk get up to game speed quickly and suffer no setbacks, I give him a slight edge over Fleury.  It’s unfortunate since Fleury has done everything asked of him and carried himself as a true professional but, at the end of the day, the Hurricanes have to ice the best team that they possibly can.  Personally, I’m just happy that it’s not my call.

Getting back to the defense as a whole, most fans that I’ve interacted with are thrilled with the way that things have been going.  Yes, the start that the Hurricanes are off to can skew that, but there is legitimate reason to be excited about the blueline.  The returning players are doing everything that’s been expected while the new additions are fitting in nicely.

The defense has, for stretches, looked completely dominant.  Not only have they been able to dictate the play and control the opposition, but they’ve also been able to drive the offense.

The scary thing is that they still have room to improve.

What are your thoughts on the Hurricanes defense so far this season?  Who sits when TVR re-enters the lineup?