Some people in the hockey community might assert that the Carolina Hurricanes don't have a superstar. I disagree. For the better part of a decade, Sebastian Aho has been a superstar. He has become the face of the organization and is soon to have just about every post-relocation record over the next few years. I'd call that superstar behavior.
This season, Aho has enjoyed the best start of his career. He is well over a point-per-game pace, leading the team with 16 assists and 26 points in 19 games while sitting second in goals (10). He's coming off a three-point night against Chicago on Saturday, giving him seven points in his last four games. Now, he's in his home country with a chance to make history.
Aho sits two goals away from tying Eric Staal for the most as a Hurricane. When the season began, it felt like there was an outside chance for him to get the goals record by the time the Global Series rolled around. Now, there's a distinct possibility that he breaks it in his home country. I'm someone who loves storylines, and that is the ultimate storyline for Aho.
Aho's work at international tournaments is as impressive as his NHL work
Since he was playing juniors, Aho has been a force in Finnish hockey. He has represented his country proudly throughout his career, both with Finland and the Hurricanes. His reception this summer, when he brought the Stanley Cup to a concert, was incredible. Aho is a household name, and he has done his country proud for a long time.
While he represented Finland twice at the U18 Championships, winning silver in 2015, and twice at the World Juniors, his performance in 2016 is arguably the most special. Playing in Helsinki, a loaded Finnish team won gold in overtime over Russia, with Aho recording a goal and an assist in the contest. He finished the tournament with 14 points, second to short-lived Hurricane Jesse Puljujarvi.
Aho added a silver medal at the World Championship later in 2016, joining Finland as the second-youngest roster member. He'd play in two more World Championships in 2017 and 2018 after making his NHL debut. In 2018, he was named one of the best forwards at the tournament, recording nine goals and 18 points in eight games, but Finland was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Because of the Hurricanes' regular-season success, it took a long time for Aho to finally wear his country's colors again. He was one of Finland's first representatives for the 4 Nations tournament in 2025, and he earned an Olympic nod in 2026, wearing an "A" for his country in both. Aho was excellent in Milano Cortina, guiding Finland to a bronze medal.
Before the season began, I wanted Aho to return to being the gamebreaker that we know he can be. With almost a quarter of the season gone already, he has been that and more for the Hurricanes. We shouldn't be that surprised by it. Being at home will be a fun experience for him, and I think he'll be extra motivated to give his all and put on a great show. Maybe there's a record for him to break, too.
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