Carolina Hurricanes season snapshot awards

With the NHL pausing the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, NHL.com is taking stock of each of the League's 31 teams.

Today, the award-worthy candidates for the Carolina Hurricanes at the pause:

Through 68 games, the Carolina Hurricanes (38-25-5) are in position to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000-01 and 2001-02, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

The Hurricanes qualified for the playoffs as the first wild card last season and reached the Eastern Conference Final before being swept by the Boston Bruins. They hope to take another step this season and have a good idea of what they're capable of from what they've accomplished so far.

To showcase the Hurricanes' performances this season, here are the top players in various categories:

MVP

It's difficult to remember Sebastian Aho got off to a slow start, scoring three points (two goals, one assist) in the first nine games with each goal scored into an empty net. The 22-year-old center is tied with Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets for sixth in the NHL with 38 goals, surpassing his previous NHL career-high of 30 from last season. Aho leads the Hurricanes with 66 points (28 assists) and is first among their forwards averaging 19:25 in ice time per game.

Rookie

After getting a taste of the NHL in seven games at the start of last season, forward Martin Necas has been a fixture in the lineup this season and is third on the Hurricanes with 16 goals, which is fourth in the NHL among rookies. The 21-year-old is tied with defenseman Jaccob Slavin for fifth on the Hurricanes iwith 36 points, which is seventh in the NHL among rookies.

Defenseman

Always reliable, Slavin has become even more valuable with defensemen Dougie Hamilton (leg) and Brett Pesce (shoulder) out with injuries. Slavin has set NHL career-highs with 36 points and 30 assists, and leads the Hurricanes with 23:24 in ice time per game and 107 blocked shots.

Defensive forward

Center Jordan Staal, who has 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 68 games, remains the forward Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour depends upon most in key situations defensively. Staal leads the Hurricanes with 545 defensive-zone face-offs (winning 49.5 percent), well ahead of Lucas Wallmark, who is second with 268. Staal leads the Hurricanes winning 54.4 percent of all face-offs (at least 25 draws) and with 149 hits, and is first among their forwards with 36 blocked shots.

Comeback player

Forward Justin Williams wasn't gone for long, sitting out the first three months of the season while contemplating retirement, but the 38-year-old's return has been significant. In 20 games, the three-time Stanley Cup winner has 11 points (eight goals, three assists), including a goal in each of the last five games before the pause and two game-winning goals. He was 3-for-3 in shootout attempts with two game-deciding goals.