Sebastian Aho

Aho scored at a point-per-game pace for the second time in his career during the shortened 2020-21 season, tallying 24 goals and 57 points through 56 games. He tied his rookie-season mark of 24 goals for the lowest of his career, but at a full 82-game pace, he would've tied his career-high 83 points and scored over 30 goals for the third straight year. The 24-year-old Finn averaged 19:28 of ice time per contest and scored 18 of those 57 points on the man advantage. Aho is firmly planted on Carolina's lethal first line and top power-play unit, giving him great offensive upside. That high ceiling along with his durability (he hasn't missed a game over the last three seasons) make him a safe early-round bet.

Aho took a small step back in terms of overall production last season, but he also took a step forward in terms of his abilities as a goal-scorer, setting a new career high with 38 goals in just 68 games. His contributions in the other major categories were nothing to sneeze at, either, as the 23-year-old winger finished the shortened campaign with 28 helpers, 206 shots on goal and 17 power-play points. Aho did shoot at a presumably unsustainable 18.4 percent clip last year, but a regression in his goal total should be more or less offset by a corresponding increase in his assist total in 2020-21. Aho's combination of youth, scoring upside and relatively high-shot volume will make him worthy of an early-round selection in this year's fantasy drafts.

Aho has displayed tremendous growth over his first three NHL campaigns, going from 49 points to 65 to 83. Now established as Carolina's clear-cut No. 1 center and locked into a five-year deal after the Hurricanes matched a rare offer sheet from Montreal, Aho should once again flirt with a point-per-game pace while looking to build on last year's career-best 30 goals. He can be relied upon to contribute in all three phases of the game, having scored 24 power-play points last season while also potting four short-handed goals. Aho's floor is high, and the question is just how high his ceiling will climb.

Following an impressive 49-point rookie season, Aho once again exceeded expectations in 2017-18 by leading the Hurricanes in scoring with 65 points in 78 games. He failed to register a goal in his first 15 games, but made up for that with a five-game consecutive goal streak in November. He finished just one goal shy of 30 for the season, including a career-best eight on the power play. Aho spent most of the season playing left wing on the top line alongside Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Staal, though the Canes did experiment with him at center as they remain woefully thin down the middle. Whether the team makes this a permanent change during the upcoming season remains to be seen, but either way, you can expect more of the same offensively from Aho this season, especially if he gets a chance to play with second overall draft pick Andrei Svechnikov right away. Overall, Aho remains Carolina's best all-around player and a rising star in the NHL.

Aho landed in Raleigh last season as a highly-touted prospect who had spent the last three seasons in the Finnish Elite League and turned many heads at the World Championships in May. His previous performances on the world stage had been so impressive, many observers felt the 19-year-old would land a roster spot with the Hurricanes right out of training camp, and that’s exactly what happened. In his rookie season, Aho found himself playing on the Canes’ top line alongside Jordan Staal and fellow newcomer Teuvo Teravainen, and finished with an impressive 49 points in 82 games. This included a team-best 17 points on the power play. Looking ahead, Aho has quickly developed into one of the Canes’ top offensive threats with plenty of scoring upside. Now at just 20 years old, he will look to build on his solid rookie campaign and lead the Hurricanes back to playoff contention.

At 19 years old, Aho has already spent three seasons playing pro hockey with Karpat of the Finnish Elite League – culminating his overseas career with a point-per-game effort over 45 games last year – before signing an entry-level contract with the Hurricanes in June. GM Ron Francis was so impressed with the Finn's performance at the World Championships in May that he seemed to guarantee Aho a roster spot, saying, “I would think based on everything he’s done, he’s certainly penciled into our lineup, if not in pen.” Of course, that's not official, so Aho's situation is worth monitoring as it takes shape over the course of his first NHL training camp.