Carolina Hurricanes Have a Sleeping Giant in Svechnikov This Year

Every team has some level of a sniper and every team wants a better one. The Carolina Hurricanes quietly have a pure goal scorer on the roster that has gone under the radar this past year due to free-agent departures and new contracts for fellow teammates. Injuries have played a large part in Andrei Svechnikov's lack of popularity or focus around the league, but make no mistake, Svechnikov is ready for a big season.

An ACL injury ended an All-Star season for Svechnikov in 2022-23. It was a big hit to the Canes season and the 24-year-old's offense was needed in the Eastern Conference Finals defeat to the Florida Panthers, scoring just 6 goals in the 4-game sweep.

A first-time All-Star Game selection for Svechnikov was followed by a goal drought before his season-ending injury. Finishing the year with 23 goals and 55 points, the young Russian forward was on pace to set career records. 64 games was all he had in the season and delayed his return last season as well.

Recovering from such a severe injury takes time and despite a clean bill of health last season, it was obvious that Svechnikov was shaking off some rust. Despite that uphill battle, he played in 59 games and scored 19 goals. His game elevated in the playoffs as he posted 11 points in 11 games and was hitting his stride.

It is easy to forget how young these players are especially after they enter the league at such a young age. It is hard to believe that Svechnikov is entering his 7th season in the NHL. Signed till 2029, the second overall draft choice in the 2018 NHL Draft is a big part of the young core now including Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Martin Necas.

The potential that players like Jarvis and Necas have has put Svechnikov out of the spotlight but this is the season that he will be able to put it all together. This organization is counting on it after losing important forwards this summer.

Expect to see Svechnikov get off to a fast start after being able to have a regular summer of training and another year in a comfortable situation in Raleigh. The key for head coach, Rod Brind'Amour, will be keeping a consistent line together with Svechnikov to grow chemistry.