Carolina Hurricanes Need Another Gear From Sebastian Aho – Hockey Writers –

Generally, when a point is divided by each player of the game, people are happy to have such a product in the team, especially if that player is the highest paid and considered the star of the team. However, what if that should be a normal expectation and everyone knows that there is another level in the skill set? About the Carolina Hurricanes, forward Sebastian Aho, is he one of those superstar players that people consider a star but never hit that next gear? After a recent three-game road trip, fans have noticed a lack of “game changers” when it comes to Aho. Let's dive in…

Where are you, Sebastian?

Entering the 2024-25 season, Aho's contract increases to $9.75 million over the next eight seasons until it expires in the summer of 2032. It went from $8.46 million per season in his last five years to $42.30 million. It may not seem like a lot per season rising to $1.29 million per year. However, when you are paid to be the club's star player, there are expectations for the player to play at other levels. The 2023–24 season saw Aho top 80 points for the third time in his career (89 in 2023–24, 81 in 2021–22, and 83 in 2018–19). He showed the brilliance of being the legendary player the Hurricanes know he can be. However, if you ask the fans if he has changed, they will say no. They know Aho can be a pass rusher and someone who starts the season with slow speed.

Related: It's Time to Call Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho a Superstar

Don't get it wrong, fans love the Finnish forward who sets multiple franchise records each season. He will go down as the greatest player the Hurricanes have ever seen to many fans. However, despite the slower pace fans are used to, this feels like the start of the season that even Aho should get people's attention. Although he has 14 points in 15 games, a pace of .93 points per game, 11 of those are assists. In addition, three of his goals came in 3v3 overtime or empty-netters. Although they don't ask how, they ask how many, in this case, how many and how they will come should be considered.

Aho's goals percentage (GF%) in 15 games is 42.10%. That's less than both teammates Andrei Svechnikov (47.1%) and Jack Roslovic (58.8%). Moreso, under Jesperi Kotkaniemi's 62.50 GF% and Martin Necas' 57.70 GF% have been the Hurricanes' top hitters to start the 2024-25 season. That's not the number he should be at if he's not scoring goals, or taking shots in most games. To be one of the bottom six, and get paid as the face of a franchise player, you would expect a better GF% from a guy like Aho.

However, there is credit to be given to Aho as he is tied for points (14) with Svechnikov in the team and has two game-winning goals. The thing that keeps on grinding is how he doesn't appear in other games or he can add one or two assistants but the fans don't remember much about them.

Related: Importance of Storms' Sebastian Aho Getting 500th Point

During a three-game road trip that saw them travel to Denver, Las Vegas, and Utah for the first time, this was a great opportunity to see Aho get off to a slow start and see the kind of “put the team on his back” type of game fans and team are known to see in him. That was not the case at the games of the Colorado Avalanche or the Utah Hockey Club. He managed to score zero goals in the game where the Avs won 6-4. Additionally, in a 4-1 loss to Utah, he had a total of 22 minutes of ice time that saw six power play opportunities and 23 turnovers. It's not fair to see a guy people call a “champion” only have two shots in two of three games on a road trip.

Given the fact that the Hurricanes don't need Aho on Earth right now, they need his line to continue. The fact that Aho and Svechnikov are the only negative players in plus/minus (both minus-3) while Roslovic is plus-3. In addition, with the new contract just signed, Aho should be within the area where Necas is currently with 25 points in 15 games and a pace of 1.67 points per game. I'm not saying it should be exactly that, but somewhere that someone who makes almost $10 million a season as the highest paid player should be. The Rod Brind'Amour system does not require a player to score 100 or more points, but Aho had 89 last season in said system. He can produce like a great player. But where is the star, taking the game mindset that has shown its brilliance in the past? Scoring a point or two every night is great, but doing it quietly or averaging two shots in two games combined doesn't give a clear indication of a freshman.

Hopefully, Aho can right the ship and start playing with someone's fire that will make his presence felt in the game. A game where he can't shoot the puck at the speed of Svechnikov or Jackson Blake who had 10 total shots combined between the Golden Knights' games against Utah. If so, then the Hurricanes will be even stronger with the Finnish star center clicking on all cylinders. While I like Aho and what he brings to the Hurricanes, another gear needs to be reached.

Back to Back Weekend Set

The Hurricanes have back-to-backs this weekend against the Ottawa Senators (Saturday, Nov. 16) and the St. Louis Blues (Sunday, Nov. 17). The first game will be at 7 pm in Mpumalanga. It will be followed by the puck drop at 5pm the following day. Both games will be on Fan Duel Sports Network and radio on 99.9 The Fan. Let's hope that this weekend will be a Sebastian Aho League Takeover with four or five points in the next two games. It's time to see “Seabass” as he was called in the game that put the league on full alert.