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Carolina Hurricanes All-Star Break Report Cards: Defense and Goalies

By Luke Schull

Brett Pesce and Joel Edmundson #6 of the Carolina Hurricane (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
Brett Pesce and Joel Edmundson #6 of the Carolina Hurricane (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 21: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during warm ups prior to an NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on January 21, 2020 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 21: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during warm ups prior to an NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on January 21, 2020 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Defensive Elite

Jaccob Slavin – (A+) – Honestly, where do we even begin with the Carolina Hurricanes’ All-Star representative? He’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. Slavin won the accuracy shooting contest last weekend. In addition, he was awarded the mid-season Rod Langway award, a non-traditional award given to the best defensive defenseman. You can read more about that here.

Statistically, Slavin is staring down a new career high in assists (31) if he keeps up his current pace. His 56.5% CF at even strength is good for third best in the NHL behind only Vegas’ Shea Theodore and his now one-legged partner.

On the defensive side of the puck, Slavin is averaging 1.64 blocked shots per game. He also has 54 takeaways to only 30 giveaways. Can you imagine if they developed a concrete way to track 2-on-1s successfully defended? They’d be giving Slavin too much power, though.

Brett Pesce – (A) – When you look up the definition of composed and consistent, there aren’t any words. It’s just Pesce’s headshot (Laugh, I have a sense of humor!) Though he isn’t on pace for any new personal bests in goals or assists, he is on pace for a new best in takeaways (60) if he stays healthy.

While we’re on the topic, Pesce’s career takeaway-giveaway ratio is +82, and that’s stellar. Pesce sees the most shorthanded TOI of all Canes skaters at 3:10 per game. His ability to take the puck away is a huge part of it.

Recently, he’s been getting more ice time. He’s not getting power play time right now, but we know he could since he did so from 2015-2017. Other than Slavin, there isn’t anyone else I’d rather have on the ice in a close game than Pesce.

He ranks 5th in the NHL in CF% in close games (55.9%). In this regard, he is accompanied by a slew of other Carolina Hurricanes’ defenders and Los Angeles’ Matt Roy. Last word on Pesce is a fun fact. He was perfect in the face-off dot last season going one-for-one!

Dougie Hamilton – (A+) – Let’s go Dooooogie!!! I’m going to keep this one short, but I couldn’t not include him. He was having a career year and was on pace for 69 points (24 g 45 a). Dougie makes this team go. He was nominated to his first All-Star game prior to injury, and he had a legitimate shot at the Norris trophy for the NHL’s best defenseman. Rest up Dougie!

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