Early Season Statement Makers
You have to feel bad for Nino Niederreiter. He keeps knocking on the opportunity’s door, but noone is there to answer. He just can not buy himself a goal. Even with empty nets he is struggling to get the puck into the net. With Victor Rask already earning himself a goal, you begin to wonder who really won that trade.
Joel Edmundson is one of the few fast risers in this power rankings. Yes he has no points and only four shots on goal, but he brings a toughness with him that cannot be replicated. It translates to a whopping nine blocked shots and nine hits in the last four games. This is an Ironman. Just thinking about it all hurts.
Brett Pesce moves up a rank as his defensive shutdown play grows. He also scored a goal against the Islanders to get that party started. He also has 15 shots on goal. Perhaps the Hurricanes should play seven D and push him up to the fourth line on the wing? Perhaps, but there is one other defender who is just a bit more deserving of such treatment.
After going four straight games with two points Andrei Svechnikov took a slight step back and has not seen a point since the game against the Islanders where he earned himself an empty netter for his second point after earning the first off the first goal of that game. That is why he tumbled in the standings. Perhaps he needs faster linemates to keep up with him?
Sebastian Aho, in the last four games, doubled the number of points he earned from the first four games. But he still isn’t living to his full potential. Perhaps its lady luck, perhaps there is more going on. Perhaps this is simple the slow start to a career season. Only time will tell. for now he has earned himself a step up in my power rankings.