For Canes’ Jaccob Slavin, first NHL All-Star appearance is bittersweet
The Carolina Hurricanes quickly began to scatter after Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, forward Teuvo Teravainen already dressed in a plaid suit and pink tie as he talked to the media.
With everyone in a hurry to begin their NHL All-Star break and bye week, one player lingered in the locker room at PNC Arena. Jaccob Slavin stood talking with Bob Gorman, one of the Canes’ equipment managers, about hockey sticks and the other gear he would need.
For the first time, Slavin was headed to the NHL All-Star Weekend. Judged to be the NHL’s “best defensive defenseman” in midseason balloting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, Slavin is representing the Canes in St. Louis.
“It’ll be fun,” he said Tuesday. “You’re there with some of the best players in the world, so it’s going to be something you just kind of take in and just enjoy it while you’re there.”
For Slavin, it’s decidedly bittersweet. That’s the word he used. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton initially was selected to go and be a part of the Metropolitan Division team, making his first All-Star appearance, but a broken fibula in the Jan. 16 game against Columbus might have ended his season.
“As excited as I am, I wish Dougie was still going and wish he wasn’t hurt,” Slavin said. “That’s a huge loss for our team and huge loss for me in that he’s my defensive partner, too.”
In the PHWA’s midseason awards voting, Hamilton was third in the Norris Trophy balloting for the NHL’s best all-around defenseman behind John Carlson of the Washington Capitals and Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators. Before the injury, Hamilton was second among NHL D-men with 14 goals, fourth in points (40) and ranked second among all skaters in plus/minus at plus-30 — all big-time numbers.
Hamilton, who underwent surgery Jan. 17, was back in the locker room before the Jets game, his injured left leg supported by a small scooter as he wheeled about the room chatting up teammates.
“A little buggy with a Porsche sticker on it,” Slavin said, smiling. “He’s riding around in style. “
Some would say Slavin’s All-Star selection was overdue given the respect he has gained throughout the league, and by those who cover the league, with his consistently solid play. In his sixth NHL season, Slavin has an iron-man streak of 353 consecutive games played and has played more than 20 minutes in 318.
“I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the league,” Canes defenseman Brett Pesce said.
Sebastian Aho was the Canes’ All-Star representative last year, helping the Metro Division win the three-on-three game competition and the $1 million prize to be split by the winners, quite the parting gift. Defenseman Noah Hanifin, then in his third NHL season, was picked for the 2018 All-Star Game in Tampa, Hanifin conceding he was “pretty surprised” to be chosen.
Slavin, who plays with a quiet confidence bolstered by his strong faith, had a lot more eyeballs on him last spring, when the Canes reached the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2009. Playing on that magnified stage, Slavin and Hamilton shined as the Canes’ top defensive pairing, earning a much larger degree of exposure — NBC televised just one Canes regular-season game nationally.
“He’s as good as any defenseman in the league, in my opinion,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said this week. “Certainly as valuable as any defenseman. He deserves to be in that game.”
Most PHWA members would agree. Slavin was the top vote-getter for the Rod Langway Award for the defenseman who “best excels in the defensive aspect of the game.” Langway, who twice won the Norris Trophy, was a Stanley Cup champion with Montreal in 1979 and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Slavin participated in the NHL Skills Competition on Friday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, and was one of the night’s winners. One of eight players competing in the Accuracy Shooting drill, trying to hit various target images from 25 feet, he wound up with the best time of 9.505 seconds.
Slavin had a nice cheering section. His wife, Kylie, and daughter, Emersyn Ruth, are in St. Louis along with a number of family and friends from Erie, Colo. Slavin said two younger brothers can’t make it — “They have their own hockey games,” he said.
Most defensemen probably would like time off at this time of the season, given the wear and tear, the minutes played. Not Slavin.
“It’s awesome,” Slavin said. “This organization has been nothing but great to me in my career. To be able to represent it is definitely an honor and I’ll try to do well.”
And if the Metro wins again Saturday, there could be some extra cash to bring back from St. Louis.
“Let’s hope we do that as well,” Slavin said, laughing.
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 12:25 PM.
