Andrei Svechnikov: Top Moments

RALEIGH, NC -It's official. Andrei Svechnikov inked his
contract extension
today, ensuring he'll remain in Raleigh for the next eight seasons.
It's been quite the three years since the Carolina Hurricanes selected Svechnikov in the NHL Draft, both on and off the ice. Now the organization has locked up its young winger, here's a look back at some of the biggest moments of his career.

Canes Draft Svechnikov Second Overall - June 22, 2018
It may be dramatic to say
drafting Svechnikov second overall in the 2018 NHL Draft
was the pivotal turning point in the organization's trajectory. After all, Rod Brind'Amour had yet to coach his first game as the team's head coach, Justin Williams had yet to be named Captain, and the Storm Surge had yet to be unveiled. But without a doubt, selecting the 18-year-old that summer night was certainly a pivotal moment for a franchise that had missed the postseason for 10 straight years.
Of course, everyone knows what's happened since the Canes drafted Svechnikov: a 120-66-20 regular season record, three straight playoff appearances, a trip to the Eastern Conference Final, and four postseason series victories.
On the individual front, the 21-year-old leads the 2018 draft class in games played (205), points (140), and +/- (10), while ranking second in goals (59) and third in assists (81).
"He's not only a great player but a great person," General Manager/President Don Waddell said at the time of the draft. "We all knew him as a player. … Then when you meet him, he's really driven. He's talking about how it's all about winning. Those are good things you like to hear from young players … and he's real. He wants to be a part of a winning organization and a winning team."
Three seasons later, there's no question Svechnikov is part of a winning organization.

First Career Goal - October 7, 2018
There's nothing like the first goal. In a wild 8-5 win over the Rangers, Svechnikov redirected Justin Faulk's shot over the goalie's shoulder, giving the Canes a one-goal lead with just under 10 minutes left in the third period, standing up as the game-winner. The young Russian became the first player born in the 2000's to score an NHL goal.
"We need everyone to contribute. We've said that from day one. Whether you're a rookie or you've been around forever, if you want to play, you've got to contribute," Brind'Amour said after the game. "[The young guys] are finding ways. They're not just taking up ice time. They're making an impact."
Svechnikov would go on to net 20 goals and tally 17 assists in his first season, ranking third among all rookies in goals scored.

OT Goal vs Montreal - March 24, 2019
With 1:45 left in overtime against Montreal at PNC Arena, Svechnikov buried his first career OT winner, beating Carey Price through the 5-hole and becoming the youngest player in franchise history to score a goal in overtime. The win gave the Canes a 3-point lead in the Wild Card race with just seven games remaining in the season, as the team closed in on its first playoff appearance in 10 years.
"You love the confidence he has. He feels it," Brind'Amour said after the win. "He's earned the right to be out there. That's the whole key."

First Lacrosse Goal - October 29, 2019
The goal seen round the world.
With the Canes trailing the Calgary Flames 1-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the third period, Svechnikov found himself with plenty of time behind the Calgary net. What he did next was scoop the puck onto his blade, pop it over David Rittich's right shoulder, and
net the first lacrosse-style goal in NHL history
.
"The talent is there. Now, just the confidence. That's a huge thing for a young kid to know you can actually make these plays and do these things," Brind'Amour said after the game. "Once you put that in your back pocket, the sky is the limit."
For good measure, Svechnikov would go on to tally the game-winner just over three minutes later, burying a wrist shot on the power play in an eventual 2-1 victory.

Second Lacrosse Goal - December 17, 2019
How do you follow up the first lacrosse-style goal in NHL history?
By doing it again
, of course. Not even two months after he set hockey Twitter on fire, the dynamic winger did it again, this time in a 6-3 thumping of Winnipeg.
"You can't say enough about the kid," Jordan Staal said after the game. "So talented. Such a hard worker. He plays tough and plays hard. He does everything and does everything really, really well. It shows. A goal like that is pretty special. He makes it look easy."
There have now been three lacrosse-style goals scored in NHL history, and Svechnikov has tallied two of them (Nashville's Filip Forsberg netting the other).

Hat Trick vs New York - August 3, 2020
There were a lot of weird things about the Canes' matchup with the New York Rangers on August 3, 2020. It was August, it was a 12 p.m. puck drop, and it was the postseason without technically being the playoffs.
One of the constants though? Andrei Svechnikov being Andrei Svechnikov.
The 20-year-old beat Henrik Lundqvist three times as the Canes dominated in a 4-1 victory, giving them a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. The hat trick marked the first of his career, and perhaps more impressively, the first postseason hat trick in franchise history.
"He's genuine, and he's a great person," Brind'Amour said after the game. "He's a special kid, and he's just getting better and better. We're really fortunate to have him."