Sebastian Aho has given the Carolina Hurricanes something they badly needed after a choppy opening to the 2026-27 season: a steady hand.
Carolina is 1-1-1 through its first three games after opening with losses to the Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals, but Saturday’s win over the Philadelphia Flyers finally got the Hurricanes moving in the right direction. Aho was central to that turnaround, delivering a two-goal night and helping power the team to its first victory of the year.
It was his first multi-goal game and first multi-point game of the season, and it pushed his early numbers to three goals and four points in three games. He also picked up the secondary assist on Shayne Gostisbehere’s overtime power-play winner. Through one week, Aho is sitting on a projected 112-point pace, a blistering start for a player trying to chase his first 90-point season.
The scoring has come in bunches. Aho has three goals over his last two games, and two of them have come with the man advantage. That matters for a Carolina team that finished fourth on the power play last season and already has three power-play goals in the books.
After Saturday’s win, Aho was asked about the early success on the power play, especially with two of his goals coming in that area. He said, “Obviously there’s a pre-scout; you try and look a little bit at what they’re going to do, what their tendencies are, but I’ve always said it comes down to execution, the passes and the shots.
There’s always plays that you think you’re going to run, but it’s hockey, you know? You’ve got to play hockey, and there’s a reason why you’re on the power play.
Fly, for example, on that pass in the slot for me- it was elite. Happy to be good in that department too.”
That production has mattered even more with Seth Jarvis out until late October to early December. Without him, the Hurricanes need their franchise center to carry more of the load, and so far Aho has answered. He didn’t record a point in the home opener against Florida, but he’s found his rhythm during the back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday.
Aho now leads Carolina in both goals and points, while Andrei Svechnikov has the team lead in assists with three. There’s a long way to go, of course - 81 games still remain - and the defending Stanley Cup Champions will be looking to settle in as the season unfolds.
For the 29-year-old from Rauma, Finland, this is about doing what he’s always done for the Hurricanes since they drafted him 35th overall in 2015. He also added another line to his résumé against Philadelphia, breaking an Eric Staal record with his 50th game-opening goal, which came just 10 seconds into the game.
Carolina’s next test comes Tuesday, Oct. 6, on the road against the Montreal Canadiens. The Hurricanes will be trying to string together a second straight win and climb back above .500. Early points can matter a lot, and right now Aho is making sure Carolina has a chance to collect them.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Are Feeling One Loss More Than Fans Expected
The early stretch of Carolinas Stanley Cup defense has been rocky, and Alexander Nikishins absence has been a bigger reason than many outside the room may have expected. The rookie defenseman, who made the NHL All-Rookie Team and already owns a Stanley Cup ring, brought more than just stability on the blue line. He helped drive play, tilted the ice in Carolinas favor and gave the Hurricanes a steady two-way presence in a role that matters even more when a team is trying to defend a title.
The problem is not simply that Nikishin is missing, but that no replacement has been able to match the impact he was giving the lineup. Carolina has not gotten the same level of expected goals contribution from the players filling his spot, and that has shown up in the teams overall performance. For a club built on defense and pressure, losing one defender who can influence both has been more costly than it looked at first. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Added A Blue Line Option Worth Watching
The Hurricanes made a blue-line tweak that brings Juuso Vlimki back into the mix after a productive stretch with the Chicago Wolves. The defenseman, originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2017, has already logged time with multiple NHL and AHL clubs and joined Carolina in an early-January trade, giving the organization another experienced left-shot option to sort through as it manages its defense depth.
Vlimkis recent run in Chicago was the kind of stay that keeps a teams phone line busy, as he produced offense and steady minutes for the Wolves. Carolinas decision to move him back up comes with roster shuffling still in play, and his next opportunity will be watched closely by a team that can always use another capable body on the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Enter Connor Hellebuyck Talk With One Big Timing Question
Connor Hellebuycks name is already circulating in the trade market, and for a contender like Carolina, that naturally makes the situation worth watching. Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sharks and Jets briefly discussed a potential deal, while other clubs such as the Oilers and Hurricanes have also been floated as fits because of where they are in the win-now cycle and the uncertainty around their goaltending picture.
For Carolina, the appeal is obvious: if a proven goalie is available, the front office at least has to listen. But the bigger question is whether the timing can work, because this kind of move is never just about talent. It is about matching a players expectations with a teams present push, and right now that is the part of the conversation that still needs answering. [Read more 🡒]