Season in Review: Forwards

This is the second installment in a four-part Season in Review series. Part One: Canes Fall Short of Postseason | Part Two: Forwards | Part Three: Defensemen | Part Four: Goaltenders
The Carolina Hurricanes fell short of their team goal, but a number of forwards had breakout performances or took strides in solidifying themselves as viable NHL players.
Here is a breakdown of each of the 20 forwards to skate with the Hurricanes this season.

Sebastian Aho
78 games played, 29 goals, 36 assists, 65 pointsUnder contract through the 2018-19 season
We're going player-by-player in alphabetical order, but how fitting it is to first discuss the player who, unquestionably, was the Canes' most valuable player in the 2017-18 season? In his sophomore season in the NHL, Aho continued his ascent as one of the league's most talented players. He led the team with 29 goals and 65 points, eclipsing his totals from what was a stellar rookie campaign.
"Seabass has continued to take steps to be the player we were all hoping he'd be," Staal said. "He's turning into a really good player. That's been nice to see."
"Every year I should be a better player. That's my goal," Aho said. "I want to be a better player next year."

It was Nov. 12, Aho's 14th NHL game, in which he scored his first (and second) career goal(s). In the 2017-18 season, Aho finally found the back of the net on Nov. 13, the Canes' 16th game of the season. In the 15 games prior, Aho tallied eight assists; he was involved, but he couldn't find twine.
"I knew I was in good shape when I first got to training camp. I knew I was stronger and faster, so I felt pretty good. Still I had kind of a tough start. I still made some plays, but I couldn't score goals," he said. "Next year I want to be a better player again and do it even better."
Aho is a budding star and could easily be a 30-goal scorer in his third season.
Phil Di Giuseppe
49 games played, five goals, eight assists, 13 pointsRestricted free agent
Di Giuseppe played his best hockey of 2017-18 down the stretch of the season, as he was a point-per-game producer in his final nine games (3g, 6a).
"I've always believed [I'm an NHL player], and I think in the last month I proved that to myself and hopefully proved it to everybody else," he said. "I was able to get in a groove and hold onto the puck a little bit more."

Prior to that stretch, though, Di Giuseppe had recorded just four points (2g, 2a) in his first 40 games of the season. If he's brought back into the fold next season, the Hurricanes will want to see the down-the-stretch Di Giuseppe show up from the get-go.
"I've got a lot of good friends here. I love the area," Di Giuseppe said. "love playing here. I think there's something special that's going to happen here, and I want to be here when it does."
Warren Foegele
Two games played, two goals, one assist, three pointsUnder contract through the 2019-20 season
Foegele was showcased for a pair of games in the last week of March, and he took full advantage of his opportunity. Playing in his first professional season, the then 21-year-old forward scored a goal in each of his first two NHL games. He also recorded an assist in his NHL debut for a two-point performance and totaled six shots and a plus-3 rating in his two-game stint with the Canes. It was a small sample size, of course, but Foegele, who tallied 28 goals and 46 points with Charlotte this season, has a bright future.

Josh Jooris
31 games played, three goals, three assists, six pointsTraded to PIT on Feb. 26
Jooris was among the Hurricanes' July 1 signings, brought in as a versatile depth piece who could play both center and wing. He was in and out of the lineup during his time with the team before being assigned to Charlotte in early February. Jooris was then traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Greg McKegg on Feb. 26, a trade that's turned out pretty well for the organization - McKegg tallied 23 points (9g, 14a) in 19 games with the Charlotte Checkers to finish the regular season.
Marcus Kruger
48 games played, one goal, five assists, six pointsUnder contract through the 2018-19 season
The Hurricanes acquired Kruger from the Vegas Golden Knights in early July, a move designed to bolster the team's depth with a winning pedigree. Kruger tallied just six points (1g, 5a) in 48 games with the Canes before clearing waivers in early February and tallying eight points (4g, 4a) in 19 games with the Checkers since.
Janne Kuokkanen
4 games played, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 pointsUnder contract through the 2019-20 season
Kuokkanen made the big club's roster out of training camp and played in each of the team's first three games of the season. He was assigned to Charlotte after playing his fourth NHL game on Oct. 29 against Anaheim. While Kuokkanen didn't record a point in his short time with the Canes, he registered 40 points (11g, 29a) and a plus-17 rating with the Checkers in his first professional season.
Elias Lindholm
81 games played, 16 goals, 28 assists, 44 pointsRestricted free agent
Considering he was a fifth overall draft pick in 2013, you'd always like to see more raw production out of Lindholm, but his numbers in the 2017-18 season were steady: he scored 16 goals and notched 28 assists for 44 points, none of which were career highs but all of which were about what we saw from the Swedish forward in the three previous seasons.
Where Lindholm took the biggest stride was late in the season when he primarily played his natural position of center.
"I want to play center and get more involved in the game," he said.

If his play down the stretch is any indication, he should have that opportunity on a more regular basis moving forward. Lindholm, whose nickname is the "Swedish beast," was just that down the middle for the Canes. He's sharp in the circle and now, at 23 years old, can handle the rigors of playing down low and in the corners. He can dish the puck with ease and is used in all situations.
Lindholm is a restricted free agent heading into this summer.
Brock McGinn
80 games played, 16 goals, 14 assists, 30 pointsUnder contract through the 2018-19 season
The 2017-18 season marked McGinn's fourth professional season and first spent entirely with the Hurricanes. McGinn skated in 80 games, only missing a pair due to injury, and recorded 30 points (16g, 14a). Had it not been for the 10 shots that hit the post (which ranked third in the league) or the two shots that bounced off the crossbar, McGinn could have very well been a 20-goal scorer.

In any case, McGinn established himself as a viable NHL player in 2017-18. A second-round draft pick in 2012, McGinn can contribute offensively and also provides much-needed sandpaper and grit. If he can build off this season, the 2018-19 campaign could be a big one for the 24-year-old forward.
Martin Necas
One game played, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 pointsThree-year, entry-level contract
Like Kuokkanen, Necas also made the Hurricanes' roster out of training camp. He played in just a game - Oct. 17 at Edmonton, in which he logged nearly seven minutes of ice time - but it was the experience of practicing with and traveling with his future NHL club that will be valuable to the now 19-year-old forward in the 2018-19 season. Selected 12th overall by the Canes in 2017, Necas logged 17 points (9g, 8a) in 24 games with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga. He currently has seven points (3g, 4a) in 11 playoff games, as Brno looks to capture its second consecutive league championship.
Joakim Nordstrom
75 games played, two goals, five assists, seven pointsRestricted free agent
In his third season with the Hurricanes, Nordstrom wasn't remarkable on the scoresheet, but he was suitable in his role as a fourth-line player and was an asset on the penalty kill. Nordstrom ranked tied for second among team forwards with 41 blocked shots and logged 128:12 of shorthanded ice time. The 26-year-old will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Victor Rask
71 games played, 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 pointsUnder contract through the 2021-22 season
By most accounts, Rask had an underwhelming season: his offensive production, which peaked in 2015-16 and dipped slightly last season, dropped again in 2017-18, as the fourth-year forward recorded 31 points (14g, 17a) in 71 games. Perhaps affecting his play was a shoulder injury which required surgery to correct in the final weeks of the season.
While offensively Rask wasn't as strong as he has been in previous seasons, he did post a career high in faceoff win percentage at 54.9 percent, which helped the Hurricanes finish atop the league with a 54.1 faceoff win percentage.

Bottom line: The Canes will need more out of Rask, who inked a six-year, $24 million contract in the summer of 2016, in the 2018-19 season and beyond. The potential is there, but it needs to be realized with more consistency.
Nicolas Roy
One game played, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 pointsUnder contract through the 2019-20 season
Roy was the sixth and final player to make his NHL debut with the Hurricanes this season, and he did so in the team's final game. He finished the game with one shot, another shot attempt, two hits, two drawn penalties and six faceoff wins in 10 tries in 10:46 of ice time. Roy recorded 38 points (11g, 27a) in 70 games with Charlotte in his first professional season.
Derek Ryan
80 games played, 15 goals, 23 assists, 38 pointsUnrestricted free agent
The 2017-18 season marked Ryan's third in North America and first spent solely in the NHL with the Hurricanes. Ryan put up career numbers across the board, playing in 80 games and recording 38 points (15g, 23a) and a 56.5 faceoff win percentage.
"I had some high expectations for myself this year, and I met that. I was hoping to maybe do a little more, but at the same time I feel like I've asserted myself as a solid NHL player, one who can move up and down the lineup and produce offensively," Ryan said. "Individually I'm happy with that. It's a little bit of success. But the team, not as much success as we wanted."

Ryan is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and I'd say it's a toss up on whether he returns to the organization for a fourth season.
Jeff Skinner
82 games played, 24 goals, 25 assists, 49 pointsUnder contract through the 2018-19 season
On the heels of a career season in 2016-17, Skinner had a disappointing 2017-18 campaign by direct comparison, at least. In 79 games in 2016-17, Skinner netted a career-best 37 goals and equaled his career high in points (63), set previously in his rookie season. His production in goals and points suffered a double-digit dip in 82 games in 2017-18, as Skinner finished with 24 goals and 49 points in his eighth NHL season. And, with 579 career NHL games under his belt, he has yet to get a glimpse of the postseason.
"You come to training camp to be playing in the playoffs. That's the goal every year. We didn't accomplish our goal, so disappointment is everyone's feelings right now," he said. "It's disappointing. It's frustrating. You can throw out a lot of emotions. It's disappointing. That's about it."

Though he scored 24 goals, his lowest since the 2014-15 season, it wasn't for a lack of chances. Skinner fired off a team-high 277 shots and scored at just an 8.7 percent clip - also his lowest since the 2014-15 season and two percentage points off his career average.
To be successful offensively as a team, the Hurricanes are going to need Skinner to get back to the 30-goal mark in 2018-19, which is also the last year of his contract.
Jordan Staal
79 games played, 19 goals, 27 assists, 46 pointsUnder contract through the 2022-23 season
As expected, Staal was steady and reliable. He was a workhorse, leading forwards in average time on ice per game with 19:15. He was a go-to guy in the circle with a team-best 56.6 faceoff win percentage. He was a wrecking ball in the gritty areas of the ice - good luck trying to separate him from the puck. As a co-captain of the team, Staal was readily available to discuss the ugliest of losses and was quick to let his teammates shine in the joyous victories.
All of this while wrestling with one of the most difficult situations of his life off the ice.
That's admirable leadership through unwavering strength. That's a captain.
"It's not a fun feeling. It's been frustrating for myself personally and for this organization for a while now," Staal said of missing the playoffs for the sixth season in a row. "It's just another year that we couldn't quite get the job done. It's frustrating. That's pretty much the only way I can put it."

Lee Stempniak
37 games played, three goals, six assists, nine pointsUnrestricted free agent
It was a frustrating 2017-18 campaign for Stempniak, who didn't play his first game of the season until Jan. 12. Stempniak was first injured in training camp before suffering another, unrelated injury while on a conditioning stint in Charlotte in early November. After returning to game action, Stempniak totaled nine points (3g, 6a) in 37 games. The veteran forward is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Teuvo Teravainen
82 games played, 23 goals, 41 assists, 64 pointsUnder contract through the 2018-19 season
Teravainen had a breakout season in 2017-18, as he set career highs across the board with 23 goals, 41 assists and 64 points. His 41 assists were a team high, and he was just a point off the team-leading scoring pace set by fellow Finn, Aho. He led the team with 20 power-play points and finished with a plus-8 rating, top amongst team forwards.
The highlights of the season were plentiful for Teravainen. He netted his first career hat trick on Nov. 13 against Dallas. He had a torrid six-game point streak in November, during which he totaled 12 points (5g, 7a), and a steady seven-game point streak in March (4g, 5a). He displayed an innate chemistry on the ice with Aho: he assisted on 16 of Aho's 29 goals, Aho assisted on 13 of Teravainen's 23 goals and the pair each recorded assists on seven goals.

"The Finns were great this year," Staal said.
In addition to being an elite playmaker, Teravainen showed this season that he could be relied upon as a goal scorer, as well - and that's a great sign for the Hurricanes moving forward.
Lucas Wallmark
11 games played, one goal, 0 assists, one pointRestricted free agent
Wallmark logged a few short stints with the Hurricanes this season, spanning 11 games from late December to early March. In his first game of the season with the team in St. Louis on Dec. 30, Wallmark netted his first-career NHL goal, a tap-in in the slot off a beautiful backhand feed from Noah Hanifin. Meanwhile in Charlotte, despite playing in just 45 games, Wallmark paced the Checkers with 55 points and 38 assists.
Justin Williams
82 games played, 16 goals, 35 assists, 51 pointsUnder contract through the 2018-19 season
Yes, Williams ranked second on the team in assists (35) and third on the team in points (51). But what he brought to the Hurricanes in the 2017-18 season goes far beyond the basic statistics.
Though he wasn't one of the designated captains at the outset of the season, Williams was an unquestioned leader of this hockey club both on and off the ice. He was talkative on the bench. He would step up in the locker room. He wasn't afraid to be brutally (and refreshingly) honest in front of the cameras and microphones. It hurt him to lose, and it gutted him to not be back in the postseason, something that had happened just once in his previous eight seasons.
"I wasn't coming in to be a savior or someone who's going to throw everyone on my shoulders. I can't do that. That's not who I am. I'm here to be a complementary piece and help the team excel and grow," he said. "It sucks. It's a disappointment. It's a complete disappointment this season. Standing here right now and watching the ice get melted and scooped up, it hurts. It stinks. The fun time of year is now, and we're not a part of it."
If that doesn't say enough about Williams the player, just ask his teammates.
"What didn't he bring back to this room? He was a leader. He's a guy who I respect a ton. I've played with him and won the Stanley Cup with him. He's Mr. Game 7 for a reason. He's been through it all," Cam Ward said. "Thank God we had him. There were times when things weren't going well, and he's the one guy who will step up, say something and try to make a difference. You respect a guy like that. He's a guy you can definitely lean on here to be a veteran leader both on and off the ice."

Williams has another year remaining on his two-year contract he inked with the Canes on July 1, 2017. Look for more of the same from the veteran forward next season.
Valentin Zykov
10 games played, three goals, four assists, seven pointsRestricted free agent
Zykov played in 10 games with the Hurricanes down the stretch of the season and showed that he has the skillset to compete in the NHL. Zykov tallied three goals and a pair of assists in a three-game point streak from March 22-26 and totaled seven points (3g, 4a) in his short time with the team. This was no surprise, considering he claimed the Willie Marshall Award as the AHL's top goal scorer this season with a career-high 33 goals, including a league-leading 17 on the power play. Zykov is a restricted free agent this summer, but I imagine he'll return and compete for a full-time spot with the big club next season.