The Carolina Hurricanes are 6-0 in the postseason, becoming the seventh team since 2000 to achieve that feat. They are looking to advance to the conference finals with a couple of wins over the Flyers in Philadelphia. Goaltender has been unreal, and the scoring depth has shattered games open. Everything should be coming up roses for the Hurricanes. That isn’t the case because Carolina has one problem bubbling beneath the surface right now that they will need to fix if they do progress to Round 3.
Sebastian Aho is the straw that stirs the drink in Raleigh. He has led the team in regular-season production in all but two seasons since he made his NHL debut. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in playoff production. His 88 career postseason points are almost double that of the next closest Hurricane, Andrei Svechnikov. His 37 career playoff goals are also a record for the hockey club. To make it simple, if you can think of a record, Aho probably holds it for Carolina when it comes to the playoffs. So, why is he a concern?
The Silent Finn
In six games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Aho has three goals. If you’ve not been watching Carolina, as many people elect not to, you might think, “hey, that’s not bad. It’s slow for Aho, but he’ll get going here”. Aho’s three goals came in two games, including two empty-netters in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators. His other goal was a shorthanded break that bounced in off his skate in Game 2. He has not shot the puck past a goalie this postseason. That’s the concern for the one guy on this roster that you can argue is an offensive star.
Aho’s a plus-1 with four penalty minutes. He’s not been bad, but the fact that he has just three points, and we’re into the second round, is a major concern for the Hurricanes. Aho is supposed to carry the bulk of the offensive workload. When he isn’t leading the line for the Carolina attack, Aho is the leader of the Hurricanes, and when people talk about the lack of star power in Raleigh, he’s the one often mentioned as closest to stardom.
Impressive Depth
Without Aho being a key contributor, the Hurricanes’ ability to thrive has been remarkable. They’re not just winning with Aho being rather subdued; they’re dominating. It’s a remarkable feat of Carolina’s depth producers to get them to the position they are in, despite Aho’s underwhelming performances. He hasn’t looked like the player who dominated the game at all this postseason. He’s been a passenger, which is concerning.
Carolina against Philadelphia feels like a mismatch, so this is a series where the Hurricanes might get away with the underperforming star. However, if Carolina progresses, they will be competing for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. Teams that win Lord Stanley’s mug need the best players on the team to be the leaders on the ice. They have to be the ones who lead the charge through all four rounds. Aho hasn’t done that this postseason, like he usually does.
Finding a Solution
When a winger is having issues under Rod Brind’Amour, his solution is to put them with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. It forces them back to basics, and players rebuild confidence. They can’t do that with Aho; he’s too important on the first line. While Logan Stankoven has been the breakout star of the postseason, giving him the 1C role in his first year as a center just isn’t a feasible solution. So, what do the Canes do?
May 20, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates scoring against Florida Panthers during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
At the end of Game 2, Brind’Amour did some line juggling to put Martinook with Aho. It resulted in Seth Jarvis finding the back of the net down the lineup, but it hasn’t brought a solution for Aho. How do you restart a struggling star? That’s the trillion-dollar question for Carolina. Aho needs a jumpstart because he is the biggest question looming over this team right now. If the Finn shows up, he could cement Carolina as the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference.
Analytical Struggles
According to Natural Stat Trick, only William Carrier has a lower expected goals for per 60 (xGF/60) than Aho. This isn’t even a Svechnikov situation where he’s there, but he can’t find the back of the net. Aho isn’t playing like the guy who posts a point per game pace every season like a robot. He’s not a factor at 5-on-5, and while he’s been fine defensively, he’s supposed to be the one giving the Hurricanes run support, not the player shutting it down.
Only two players have a worse expected goals percentage (xG%) than Aho for Carolina: Carrier and Mike Reilly, a defenseman who has played only two games. For the first time in his career, Aho is drastically underperforming when the stakes are being raised. If the Hurricanes do not find a way to get him back to his best soon, it could be the biggest factor in Carolina’s decade of gatekeeping the Eastern Conference.
All of this can change in a heartbeat. Aho is the kind of player that will play one good game, remember that he is actually a very good hockey player, and start being the spear for the Hurricanes. However, that’s if he’s anywhere near his best. We don’t know why Aho isn’t at the level the Hurricanes want him to be. The old cliche is that everyone’s playing through something at this time of year. If Aho can get back to his best, he will help Carolina’s Cup ambitions. Can he do it? Yes. Will he do it? We’ll find out.
Free Newsletter
Get Carolina Hurricanes coverage delivered to your inbox
In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes – free.
Subscribe Free →
