Are the Carolina Hurricanes Ruining Andrei Svechnikov?

By Katie Bartlett

I was listening to DNVR, an Avs-centric podcast, talk about the Eastern Conference playoff race when, seemingly out of nowhere, AJ Haefele, one of their hosts, said that while he really likes the Hurricanes as a team, his biggest frustration is that they and their system have ruined Andrei Svechnikov. If it had been anyone but AJ who said this, I would have dismissed it as someone who does not understand Carolina Hurricanes hockey. But AJ is the most insightful hockey journalist that I follow, so I decided to delve into his claims. He was kind enough to elaborate some more, and this is my take on the Svech journey for the Canes based on my research, observations and AJ’s astute input.

Andrei Svechnikov, the prospect

AJ Haefele has been following Svechnikov since Andrei was a 15-year-old prospect, so I’ll let his words speak for the type of player he was expected to be:

Svech was described as a power forward who possessed the ideal combination of size, power, and skill. He was strong both with the puck and away from the puck. He could create scoring opportunities as well as finish them. His final season in the minors saw him produce 40 goals and 32 assists for 72 points in 44 games for the Barrie Colts in the OHL. Svechnikov had all the markings of a franchise-altering player.

Drafted straight into the NHL

Svechnikov was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018 with the 2nd overall pick and joined the team immediately for the 2018-19 season. That year, he played all 82 games, averaged just under 15 minutes per game, and scored 37 points, 20 of which were goals. Here are his point-per-game totals from his subsequent seasons in the NHL:

Those are respectable returns, but one cannot help but feel underwhelmed based on his draft projections and skillset that he brought with him to the team. The question becomes why he has not lived up to expectations: is the problem with the team, the player or some combination of both?

Inextricably linked

Rod Brind’Amour took over as coach in 2018-19, which was also Andrei Svechnikov’s rookie season. It’s not coincidence that as RBA’s vision for the Hurricanes became more deeply ingrained in the team as a whole that Svechnikov struggled to consistently mesh his creativity within the overall group structure. By definition, the NHL requires a more straight-forward and simplified game compared to the junior and other international leagues, but Brind’Amour and his coaching staff distilled it into an art form. The new-look Canes now boasted a system defined by a heavy forecheck, high levels of puck possession, and a man-to-man defensive scheme. As Brind’amour has honed this straight-line system, it has become much more challenging for Svechnikov to find a home for his creativity. In the early years of his career, there were more flashes of his skill – who can forget his 2019 Michigan goals?! – but with each passing season as Brind’amour’s systems become more refined, it feels like Svechnikov is trying to conform himself into a player he was never meant to be. He has still been impactful, but more so along the lines of a top-six forward rather than a franchise-defining star. And therein lies the kernel of truth that Brind’amour and the Hurricanes systems have “ruined” Svechnikov by stifling him within the overall team scheme.

Time to come together

If the current iteration of the Carolina Hurricanes is going to get the most out of Andrei Svechnikov, both the coaches and Svechnikov have to come together to forge a new path forward. The first step is consistency. Andrei needs to play with the same linemates. So much of his skillset is the ability to anticipate his linemates so that he can use his natural creativity to find them and help them find him to create high-level scoring opportunities.

Secondly, Svech needs to be playing with linemates who can play up to (or at least close to) his level. Too many times, he has been “demoted” to playing with workhorses rather than other thoroughbreds. The team cannot expect him to be a star while playing alongside grinders. And, if it does not click right away, Brind’Amour needs to let him play through it and trust that the chemistry will come. (According to Moneypuck data, Svechnikov played the most minutes on a line with Aho and Roslovic, but that line had fewer minutes than 2 of Staal’s lines and also only really played together at the start of the season). Third, Svechnikov needs to be given the freedom to make mistakes. Part of being a skilled power forward means that turnovers will happen and penalties will happen. But the team can live with that if it means that Svech can translate more of his skills into goals. Finally, regardless of the decisions Rod Brind’Amour and the coaching staff make, Andrei needs to step up and play with maximum effort. Too many times, he has been caught coasting, being tentative, and/or not leveraging his strength effectively. He needs to fulfill his end of the bargain by bringing his maximum level of compete each and every game.

Tarnished (not ruined), but still time to shine

While he’s been in the NHL for seven seasons already, Andrei Svechnikov is still only 25 years old and is just now beginning the prime years of his career. His skillset might not be an obvious fit in Carolina’s defense-first systems, but he still has an important role to play on this perennial Cup-contending team. Ultimately, he is the author of his own success and he needs to rise to the occasion. Playing under Rod Brind’Amour makes that task more challenging, but not impossible. If the Hurricanes are ever going to become Stanley Cup champions, it will be because Svechnikov has stepped up, rediscovered his game, and led the way by polishing his offensive brilliance and letting it shine for all to see when the lights are the brightest.

Note: All stats are obtained from free content available from Natural Stat Trick, Moneypuck and HockeyViz via their sites and/or content posted on Twitter/X.