The Carolina Hurricanes have been a solid team from top to bottom for the last few years. Consistently making the playoffs and always putting up a strong fight. Their regular season success would somewhat carry over to the playoffs. But they have not been able to make it past the Eastern Conference Finals since 2006. In fact, they haven’t actually won a game in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2006. While you could nitpick various reasons for that, one has seemed to be a lack of a game-changing goal scorer when the team needed it. But the Hurricanes may be looking ready to answer the call this year after a notable trade deadline and some major development in certain players has them icing a bonafide true NHL first line that is defensively responsible and offensively threatening.
Carolina Hurricanes New Look First Line
In its current iteration, the Carolina Hurricanes first line sees Jake Guentzel and Seth Jarvis flanking Sebastian Aho. While coach Rod Brind’Amour has no problem moving players around on the lines, so much so that sometimes true distinctions are minimal, this newly formed first line is showing signs of being arguably the best first line Carolina has dressed in recent memory. This isn’t to say that other first lines in the past haven’t worked well. The infamous “SAT” line of Aho with Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen has worked in the past and a few months ago was on fire. But then it cooled off and a shake-up was required. This has happened consistently with this line as well as others historically, but that is not that unusual.
The Hurricanes First Line’s Initial Impact
This new first line very well may cool off at some point and Brind’Amour may make an adjustment. But for now, it is showing all the signs of being a game-changing line that Carolina needs for success in the playoffs. As of the time of this writing, that line has seven goals for with no goals against in six games together. They have a 56.8% Corsi with 83 shots for and 63 against. Meanwhile, their expected goals percentage is 60% with a 27 expected goals for per 60 minutes. These advanced stats are solid, but not the top of the list for Carolina. But what is notable is that even with those analytics, they are averaging over a goal per game as a line with none against. This is the dominance you want from a good first line. But the stats show the science while the video shows more of the art.
These three have provided Carolina with some high-level offensive creativity that most pundits claim Carolina has lacked. But this isn’t without breaking Carolina’s identity. They are hard on pucks while maintaining a flow and passing game that can be a joy to watch. They have the skill to play off the rush as well as the strength and grind to establish a forecheck. There is also a quickly developing chemistry where the newcomer Guentzel seems to already know where his linemates will be. The clip below is a great example. Guentzel fires a shot off the rush, collects his rebound, goes behind the net, and quickly looks up to hit Aho in the slot for a goal. Very quick, heads-up play that ends in a goal.
Let’s be real … this Guentzel-Aho-Jarvis line has been awesome! pic.twitter.com/leHJ7TRb8u
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) March 22, 2024
The Consistent Progression of Aho
Each of the three players on this line has contributed to its early success. The first is the centre, Sebastian Aho. After signing a huge deal over the summer, everyone knows that Aho is a face of this organization. He has the skills to be a top-line player with the work ethic and competitiveness to keep him getting better and better. Aho has already broken numerous franchise records with time left to continue breaking more. Since Eric Staal, the Hurricanes have not had as impactful of a player as Aho.
At this point, Aho has 31 goals and 49 assists. This is the third time he has reached the 80-point mark in his career and is only four points from his career high. If he hits 90 points he would only be the second player since the Whalers moved to Raleigh to reach that mark. Meanwhile, this is the fifth time he has hit the 30-goal mark. He can play in all situations and is a very effective 200-foot player. With deceptive skating speed and a strong hockey IQ that he uses to get in the right positions to make plays, Aho can do a little bit of everything. When Guentzel came to Carolina, some people were wondering if his production could dip being away from Sidney Crosby. History didn’t entirely support this but given Crosby’s level it was a fair concern. However, Aho’s strong play has worked very well next to Guentzel. While Aho is not Crosby, he is a major reason for this line’s success.
The Rise of Jarvis
If there was a player competing for breakout performance of the year for Carolina this year it would be Seth Jarvis. The 22-year-old ball of energy has been nothing short of stellar for Carolina this year. While not the biggest player, he plays larger than his size. Jarvis has no problem banging bodies and getting in on the forecheck to win battles in the corners. He is fifth on the team in hits with 105. Meanwhile, he utilizes his quickness to win pucks and take them into dangerous scoring areas.
Somewhat like Aho, Jarvis is another all-situations player who is responsible defensively. For much of the season, he was utilized on the third line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook and did not look out of place. Offensively, he is pushing for the 30-goal mark and currently has 27. Ten of those have come on the power play. He also had a recent stretch of six straight games with a goal that could have been seven but for hitting a post on an empty net. These 27 goals in addition to his 30 assists and 57 points are career bests in all of those categories. He has the speed, he has the energy, he has the skill and he has the offensive creativity to provide a high-level Swiss army knife to this line. The example below shows some of the chemistry he already has with Jake Guentzel.
The give-and-go between Guentzel and Jarvis ? pic.twitter.com/No09pMbw0K
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 20, 2024
The Arrival of Guentzel
The final piece to this puzzle was without a doubt the arrival of Jake Guentzel. Carolina knew what they were getting when they took a swing to land one of the top names on the trade board at the trade deadline. A high-level offensive talent with an elite hockey IQ, Guentzel had a knack for scoring goals, putting up points, and being a game-changer in big situations. But as mentioned above, there were not some (albeit fleeting) concerns. One was the general concern with acquiring anyone late in the season. Will they fit in and will the team maintain its chemistry? Another was the question of Guentzel’s ability without Crosby. And a third was his lack of defensive effectiveness. The consensus seemed to be on the third concern that he was so good offensively it didn’t really matter as much.
However, Guentzel arrived and has nothing but spectacular for Carolina. Not only does this line have seven goals for and none against, but when Guentzel is on the ice Carolina has 16 goals for and none against. Since joining the team, Carolina has gone 6-1-1 with Guentzel scoring two goals and 10 assists in eight games played. And as shown by the clips above, when he is with Jarvis and Aho, the chemistry has been impressive. Carolina typically plays a strong defensive game, mixed with some strong goaltending lately, but to have no goals against means that Guentzel is at least doing something right defensively. However, it could just be that the strongest defence is a good offence. This line with Guentzel’s offensive ability has been able to control much of the play in the offensive zone. This limits the opposition’s ability to work in their own offensive zone while tiring them out by forcing them to defend.
The Three Are Better than the One
These three together have been exactly what Carolina has needed. Their effectiveness also allows lines 2-4 to work their own magic by bolstering those lines and creating favourable matchups. But each of Aho, Jarvis and Guentzel have contributed to the first line’s success. Individually, they each are great. But together they have been special. Carolina will need this to continue in the playoffs to make some noise.
Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
