In the NHL, reaching any milestone of 100 is a cause for celebration, and the Carolina Hurricanes have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks. With several players on the verge of significant career milestones, the next 25 games promise to be exciting for both the team and its fans.
Let's start with the captain, Jordan Staal. He's on track to play his 1400th NHL game by season's end, likely hitting this mark on April 2 in Raleigh against the Blue Jackets, provided he stays healthy. Staal is also closing in on 500 points with the Hurricanes, needing just 11 more to become the fifth player in franchise history to achieve this feat.
Jordan Martinook and Shayne Gostisbehere are also nearing important milestones. Martinook is close to reaching 200 points, a target many had set for him at the season's start.
Meanwhile, Gostisbehere, in his second stint with the team, is approaching 100 points with the Hurricanes. Sean Walker is eyeing his 100th career assist, needing just nine more to get there.
Goals and points hold a special place in the hearts of fans and players alike. Taylor Hall is within striking distance of his 300th career goal. While it’s ambitious, scoring three goals in the first four games after the break could see him achieve this milestone in Edmonton on March 6.
Sebastian Aho, an Olympian and the team's leading scorer, is chasing two major career milestones. He needs 12 more points to reach 700 and 15 more assists to hit 400. Having already scored his 300th goal this season, Aho continues to climb the franchise leaderboard, inching closer to Eric Staal's records.
On the rookie front, Alexander Nikishin is making waves. With a background of professional play in Russia, he's not your typical rookie.
Nikishin is on the brink of setting records for rookie defensemen in Carolina. He's currently tied for second in goals with seven and needs one more to match Justin Faulk's record.
In terms of points, he's chasing Jamie McBain's 30-point rookie season, needing eight more to tie.
Brandon Bussi is another rookie making history. His performance this season has been nothing short of stellar.
With a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.16, he’s second in the league behind Andrei Vasilevskiy’s 2.11. If Bussi maintains or improves this pace, he’ll set a new franchise record, surpassing Trevor Kidd and Frederik Andersen's shared mark of 2.17.
As the Hurricanes continue their season, these milestones add an extra layer of excitement for fans and players alike. Each achievement not only marks personal success but also contributes to the rich history of the franchise.