The Carolina Hurricanes have needed young players to carry more of the load early this season, and Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven have answered that call in a big way. With injuries piling up around them, the two 23-year-olds have stepped into the spotlight and helped keep Carolina at the NHL’s benchmark.
They’re not just producing. They’re driving the whole thing.
Blake has looked like a player turning the corner fast. The Fargo, North Dakota native has 19 points in 19 games and is riding a seven-game point streak, with 14 of those points coming as assists.
That playmaking touch has become a major part of his game, and the numbers back it up. According to Natural Stat Trick, Blake’s goals-for per 60 rate sits at 4.33, ahead of his 4.20 expected goals-for per 60 rate.
He’s creating dangerous offense at a level Carolina has long wanted from its supporting cast.
Stankoven, meanwhile, has been the finisher. He has 11 goals in 19 games, a pace that puts him on track for almost 50.
That would make him only the fourth 40-goal scorer in franchise history, and the post-relocation record is 45. Even if he doesn’t reach that number, he’s already operating like one of the best scorers on the roster.
His 4.64 GF/60 is eye-catching on its own, and it comes with a 4.12 xGF/60, which suggests the production isn’t just a mirage. If anything, the gap points to only slight regression.
There was already a question hanging over Stankoven’s finishing after the Hurricanes’ domination in the 2026 postseason, when his shooting percentage sat at 20%. In a 19-game sample, that can be hard to trust.
But he’s done it again this season, shooting 20% over another 19 games, which pushes the total to 38 games at that rate. At this point, the sample is no longer tiny, and the real question becomes how well he meshes with Blake.
That part has been the most impressive of all. Since Stankoven arrived in Carolina, the two have posted a 3.44 GF/60 at 5-on-5 together, along with a 1.93 GA/60 and a 3.69 xGF/60.
Over 117 games and 1,117:51 of ice time, that’s a pairing that has consistently tilted the ice for Carolina. The split numbers make the fit even clearer.
Blake without Stankoven still generates chances, with a 3.06 xGF/60 at 5-on-5, but his GF/60 falls to 2.16. Stankoven without Blake shows a similar pattern: a strong 3.21 xGF/60, but a 3.05 GF/60.
Together, though, they become something more dangerous than either one alone.
Take both off the ice, and Carolina’s offense drops to a 2.81 GF/60 with a 3.03 xGF/60. That’s the kind of decline that shows just how much these two are doing to keep the Hurricanes humming.
Blake brings the creation. Stankoven brings the finish.
Put them together, and Carolina gets one of the most dynamic combinations it has.
The chemistry goes beyond the numbers, too. They appear to see the game the same way, attacking the net and looking to score when they get into the dangerous areas in front.
That shared instinct matters. It helps them anticipate each other and makes the passing game cleaner when the pressure rises.
They’ve already shown they can do it in a run to the Stanley Cup, and that only adds to the sense that this partnership is built to last.
What makes it even more striking is where they are in their careers. Both are 23, both are under contract for the next seven seasons after this one, and both are starting to look like real star-level contributors for Carolina. The Hurricanes have found a dangerous duo, and there’s every reason to think it’s only getting better.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Had Connor Bedard Sounding Defeated After Carolina Rout
Connor Bedard did not sound like a player trying to spin anything after Chicagos 9-2 loss to the Hurricanes. The Blackhawks captain took aim at his teams performance, pointing to the record and the defensive breakdowns that have made nights like this far too familiar, even as he noted the group remains close away from the rink.
For Carolina, it was another reminder of how quickly this team can pile on when an opponent opens the door. For Chicago, it was another rough checkpoint in a season that already has Bedard carrying a heavy load, with 14 points in 12 games after signing his five-year extension and being named captain. The talent is still obvious, but the frustration around the Blackhawks is starting to sound louder by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes May Have Just Pushed Chicago Into Panic Mode
Chicagos rough start has already pushed the organization toward early-season soul-searching, and the frustration has spilled into the kind of trade chatter that usually waits until later on the calendar. After a string of ugly results, the Blackhawks held a players-only meeting to address the mood in the room and look for a way forward, while the front office has been active enough in discussions to suggest it is not content to let the season drift.
For Carolina, that matters because the Hurricanes are among the teams watching the market with interest, and Chicagos willingness to talk now could create opportunities before the standings get any worse. The Blackhawks appear ready to consider meaningful changes sooner rather than later, which is the sort of pressure point that can reshape a trade market fast, even if the full list of names and the exact asking price are still being kept close to the vest. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Roll Into Finland With Their Offense Suddenly Everywhere
The offense finally looked like the version Carolina has been waiting for, and it showed up in emphatic fashion before the team headed overseas. A 9-2 win over Chicago gave the Hurricanes a burst of momentum heading into their trip to Finland, with Jordan Martinook and Andrei Svechnikov each scoring twice and Sebastian Aho adding a goal and two assists to keep the attack rolling from line to line.
Pyotr Kochetkov also did his part in net, stopping 18 shots and improving to 11-1-0 on the season. The result was the kind of complete night Carolina has been chasing, especially with the schedule now shifting to a different continent and a pair of games against Seattle waiting on the other side of the flight. [Read more 🡒]