With the likely line changes the Hurricanes will see at the start of the season, the J Line of Jordans Staal and Martinook, and Jesper Fast might be the most critical line in the playbook. At least for the immediate future.
Adding Michael Bunting, and his career 57 goals in 187 games to the already crowded forwards division on the Hurricanes means a mix up of lines, and the likelihood of at least one talented forward joining the press box corps. Carolina’s goofy preseason schedule, with last week’s split squad games, and the gap between games will mean even less time for lines to form. Factor in the impending return of Andrei Svechnikov, plus Rod Brind’Amour’s propensity to mix up lines anyway….carry the two..Sandbox Minus John Dilinger equals some potential offense instability for the first little bit of the season.
Enter the J Line. Combined the line totaled a combined 40 goals, and 97 points last year. Jordan Staal was seventh on the team in goals with 17, Martinook followed with 13 at tenth, and Jesper Fast was tailend-Charlie with 13 at 10. The Jordans were tied for 11th on the squad with 34 and Fast had 29.
Of equal importance, the whole J Line finished 0 or better in the +/- column. Fast ended the year +9, and proving Martinook and Staal can do little apart, the Jordans were both +7. Though not astronomically high, those numbers are not much to snuff at. Ask yourself: How many NHL “fourth” lines can say that?
I have already said that if Jesper Fast can goose up his point total in the 30 to 35 range, and help jump start the team early, the Hurricanes will benefit. While his goal total was right where it should be, a couple critical goals (like those we saw in last year’s playoffs) would not be turned down.
Jordan Martinook keeping up his typical energetic play will also be beneficial and as most junior (NHL game wise) of the J Line his energy will be needed right away. If he can get his goal total to 15, with some very early goals, the Hurricanes will be set.
Jordan Staal has, perhaps, the most critical role for not only the J Line but the team as captain, leader of PK #1 and the king of the face off circle. It will be interesting to see who quickly he is able to get warmed up and into those roles. Warm up, and staying there too.
Encouraging most is Staal’s FO% has dropped below 55% only once since 2014 and has been at career high levels since 2020-21. With Brett Pesce’s return, PK #1 will have the least turn over of any special teams unit, insuring that with Staal at the helm, the Hurricanes penalty killers will (to quote Mike Maniscalco) “do their job”
Line mix-ups have the real potential to slow offensive production in the first couple weeks of the season. Players feeling each other out, getting used to hitting spots at game speed, and an overall learning curve could have the Hurricanes offense sputtering. The J Line centered by Jordan Staal with Jordan Martinook, and Jesper Fast on the wings can have the steading effect to keep the Hurricanes in the running as lines form, solidify, and gain traction. If each of the players on the line can get out to a quick start pulling the team along, there is no reason the Hurricanes cannot lead the division by American Thanksgiving, and potentially wire to wire.