The good news? I’ve finally been around long enough to claim a bi-annual project, which we are now calling The Canes Awards (TM) . The bad news? This year, it’s tough to figure out when to do them.
Considering none of us know if the 2019-20 season will resume, let’s make a regular-season version now and a postseason version if the occasion calls.
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MVP: Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton was third in the league in GSVA (game score value added) before his injury. He was on pace for a career-high 24 goals and 70 points while averaging a career-high 23:17 per night. He was also the most compelling adjustment on what had become a halfway decent power play. He was headed for his first All-Star Game appearance. Oh, and he was playing well in his own end.
He earned some serious praise from Rod Brind’Amour after the injury: “It’s a huge loss, obviously. He’s arguably our No. 1 guy on everything.”
It’s a shame to wonder what the Norris contender would’ve done at that trajectory, but at least it was a clean break and he’s already been cleared to return to the ice. With a defensive partner like Jaccob Slavin locked down, it’s safe to assume we’ll see more of the same from Hamilton should he stay a Hurricane.
Most likely to become president: Sebastian Aho
When I say “president” I mean “captain,” but we’re sticking with the high school yearbook theme, here.
At this point Sebastian Aho is absolutely one of the Top 15 centers in the league and it’s not a debate. He averaged 19:25 TOI/per game last season and scored 38 goals — tied for sixth in the league. He was on pace (two goals away … math!) to become just the third player in Hurricanes franchise history to hit the 40-goal mark. All of this while improving his play away from the puck. Now that he’s got some depth underneath and around him he’s less of a constant target and he can really flourish offensively.
He’s also in the running for The Beanie Baby Award for being worth the investment.
Best sport: Petr Mrazek
It seems like at least 70 years ago when Joe Thornton punched Petr Mrazek. Yeah, it was a cheap shot, but yeah … Mrazek sold it. The next day at practice, the Hurricanes drew an outline of his body at the scene of the crime. Well played.
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Most improved: Haydn Fleury
At the beginning of the season, Haydn Fleury set out to add some snarl to his game and decrease his happy-go-lucky per/60. He gained traction all season, then scored his first NHL goal about 24 hours after becoming the longest-tenured NHL player with zero goals.
We went sort of in-depth about how he improved here.
Considering the “improvement” is likely largely based on how many minutes he gets now opposed to how sparingly he was used before, I’m not sure if “most improved” is the perfect terminology. But there’s something to be said about earning Brind’Amour’s trust, and where he might’ve tossed Fleury out of the lineup before, now he has to think twice.
Worst chirps: Jake Gardiner
Most likely to come back to the NHL after a brief hiatus and immediately pot like, seven consecutive game-winning goals: Justin Williams
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Best interview: James Reimer
James Reimer made me genuinely laugh so many times throughout the season, on top of being insightful and unique.
There was that time he punched Zack Kassian, of all people to punch …
Reimer, unstrapping his gear and preparing for interview: “How’s it going, guys?”
The Athletic: “Good, how are you?”
Reimer: “Oh, not too bad. Better after a W, eh? Gave the fans something to cheer for. That would’ve been a boring, 3-0 win.”
(The Hurricanes blew a 3-0 lead but ultimately won.)
The Athletic: “You and Mrazek clearly aren’t shy about defending the crease …”
Reimer: “With Kassian you know you’re gonna (bumped or poked, audio not clear) all night, which is fine — it’s fun, it’s hockey. But I thought he kinda came in late there, then I didn’t even know who it was, I just felt someone slash me. So I punched him. I looked up and it was him and I’m like, ‘I probably could have picked someone who isn’t as tough as he is.’ But you don’t want to get whacked and you want to protect your area. Thankfully the boys stepped in so I didn’t get my face punched in.”
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There was also that time he was blasting “Return of The Mack” because it’s “his wakeboarding song.”
You never know what you’re going to get with him, but it’s always going to be good.
Chillest: Teuvo Teravainen
He’s going to win an award like this every single time, folks. He is the only person I know who would miss the widest open net of the season because he was trying to pass, go on to score two goals later that game, then tell me in the post-game he still would’ve rather passed. You just have to respect it.
Most likely to succeed: Andrei Svechnikov
Anyone paying attention to Andrei Svechnikov’s rookie year knew something special was brewing, but his sophomore year was about forcing everyone else to pay attention.
2018-19: Games played: 82. Goals: 20 Assists: 17. Points: 37. Plus/minus: 0. Lacrosse goals: 0. First-line Svech: Only happened in the last two minutes of losing games.
2019-20: Games played: 68. Goals: 24. Assists: 37. Points: 61. Plus/minus: plus-9. Lacrosse goals: 2. First-line Svech: Success!
Sneaky class clown: Joel Edmundson
Jordan Martinook is the obvious pick, here, but Joe Edmundson is low-key funny. Once I walked by him doing his post-game workout and he goes “TEN THOUSAND, TEN THOUSAND ONE …”
He also picked “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain for his post-game tune. I got a chuckle out of him challenging Michelle Obama to the Instagram pushup quarantine challenge that was going around last month.
I could go on.
Comeback of the year: Hurricanes TV host Mike Maniscalco
Rookie of the year: Martin Necas
Martin Necas was somewhat overlooked in a heated Quinn Hughes vs. Cale Makar Calder Trophy battle, in a class stacked with a few other worthy contenders. Regardless, he was fourth among rookies in goals with 16 and seventh in points with 36. Mind you, he averaged 53rd in time on ice per game, at 14:10.
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Think of the potential when that’s bumped up.
I think this season was huge in setting up the rest of his career, and that’s obviously more important than winning the Calder. He proved he could not only hang in the NHL but he could thrive — at both even strength and as a key playmaker on the power play. Everyone knew he had that in him though, the most pleasant surprise to me was the amount of big, late-game goals he managed to score.
Brock McGinn: Most likely to be named Brock McGinn
I always go through The Athletic comments because y’all are awesome and you always make me laugh or think. A few days ago, Justin Bourne wrote that the Hurricanes should have a documentary. No offense to Bourne, but commenter Josef S. stole the show:
“Sounds great, Justin. So long as some team can loosen up on the white knuckle control-freakery to allow the filmmakers to go with the downs, as well as the ups of the season.
“Agree Carolina would be ideal. This is the bunch who are loose enough to let their Stormsurge hang out, after all.
“They have an interesting mix: Svechnikov exuberantly playing lacrosse, Dougie letting his museum-freak flag fly. swashbuckling Petr Mrazek and his ego are a 2 for 1. He’s teamed with Reimer, a charming wholesome Mennonite from the prairies. Brock McGinn is named Brock McGinn and plays like it.
“Hopefully, Justin Williams would still be around to be the beloved-veteran-who-can-hang-with-the-kids. Rod Brind’Amour is the frightening appearing coach who is actually really thoughtful. And Eric Tulsky is the genius math nerd whom the players stuff in a locker on sight, but who gets all the chicks. Also, featuring Sara Civian as the sardonic town hockey reporter whom everyone has a crush on, but are also afraid she’ll eviscerate them on Twitter.”
Come on, “Brock McGinn is named Brock McGinn and plays like it.”
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I laughed so hard I cried.
Most popular: Morgan Geekie and Dave Ayres
Can someone tell me how the Hurricanes managed to have the Morgan Geekie game, the Dave Ayres game and two Andrei Svechnikov Michigan goals in one season that didn’t even last 82 games?
(Photo of Dougie Hamilton: Gregg Forwerck / NHLI via Getty Images):