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Carolina Hurricanes: Jeff Skinner Is NHL’s Most Underrated Scorer

By Pete Schirrick

WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 14: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot on goal during the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 14, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This marks the 500th game of Skinner's NHL career. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 14: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot on goal during the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 14, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This marks the 500th game of Skinner's NHL career. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Every season, fans around the league talk about the elite goal scorers in the NHL. Sadly, Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner is usually omitted from this discussion.

In today’s NHL, we fans are spoiled with some of the best goal scoring the game has to offer. Veteran snipers such as Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin are quickly being joined by the next era with the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrik Laine, and Auston Matthews. However, one gifted scorer has never really received the credit he deserves. That player is Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner.

Skinner lead the Hurricanes in goals last season with 37, ending up in 6th place in the entire NHL. He finished higher than the likes of Patrick Kane, Ovechkin, and Malkin. Now I don’t know what you’ve heard, but those player don’t get outdone very often in terms of goal scoring.

Skinner has a track record of being one of the best pure goal scorers in the game.

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The former 7th overall pick broke into the league in the 2010-2011 season. He amassed 31 goals as an 18-year-old, en route to winning the Calder Trophy. Skinner has registered 185 goals in 503 career games. Now that may not seem like a lot at first glance, it seems larger when you break it down. Those totals come out to roughly a 0.37 goals per game average. This equates to a career-long pace of 30.16 goals a season.

There are only three NHLers 25 years old or younger that have three 30 goal seasons under their belt: Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Seguin, and Skinner. Yes, number 53 is in fact only 25 years young somehow.

Last season’s career-high 37 goals wasn’t a fluke at all, as he also owns a shiny 31 and 33 season to his name. Skinner even missed out barely on a fourth 30+ year, notching a strong 28 tallies in 2015-2016. Now entering his eighth (!) campaign, the sharpshooter is a seasoned veteran who still has room to grow his game.

Jeff Skinner can and should record his first career 40 goal campaign this season.

If it weren’t for various concussions plaguing him early in his career, he may already have multiple 40 goal campaigns to his name. With health issues behind him, Skinner has finally rounded into form these last two seasons. He is well on his way to the 40 goal plateau, already netting five in the Canes first six games.

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Skinner has the tools to make it happen. Carolina’s immense potential is getting noticed and gaining traction in NHL community. He is surrounded by a strong, young forwards unit composed of Sebastian Aho, Elias Lindholm, and Teuvo Teravainen. With all the variables in place, 40 goals is quite reasonable for Skinner.

The Hurricanes are a popular dark horse pick for the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, and Jeff Skinner will be leading the charge.

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