Perhaps we’ve come to expect smart defense, world-class skating ability and a sense of comfort when we see Jaccob Slavin step onto the ice, but he’s not done impressing yet.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ blue line stalwart continues to lead the defense corps, but is more than capable of chipping in on a rush. Last night in Washington, he created the rush. It’s nothing new for a defenseman to skate it out of his own zone, and perhaps even across the far blue line, but this play was worth a second look.
Maybe it’s the fact that he starts below his own goal line, with a fairly-skilled player in Evgeny Kuznetsov draped over him until Slavin dusts him with two easy strides, that raises eyebrows.