At one point, after scoring the opening goal of the 2017-18 season for the Carolina Hurricanes, Joakim Nordstrom was on pace to score 246 goals. Spoiler alert: he didn’t.
The 26-year old Swede and penalty killing specialist managed only 7 points (2G, 5A) and finished -11 for the year. Granted, Nordstrom isn’t wearing the Hurricanes sweater to light the lamp, as he is known more for his defensive prowess, but his continued place on the team is a perfect encapsulation of “good but not good enough”. Players like Nordstrom are what separates Carolina from other teams and not in the most positive way you might think.