With his second hat-trick in a short span of the season, Andrei Svechnikov became the first player drafted in 2018 to score 100 goals in the National Hockey League.

This vintage made it possible to popularize excellent defenders such as Rasmus Dahlin, Quinn Hughes, Evan Bouchard or Noah Dobson, but some underdogs have also emerged.

In that regard, Svechnikov and Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk are in a class of their own. The first has reached 100 goals, the second 96.

When the two attackers heard their names in seasons two and four, the center player who moved in between them didn’t have such a good start to his career. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, selected by the Montreal Canadiens but now a member of the Hurricanes, has scored just 35 goals in 251 games.

The Finn is also linked by Joel Farabee, Yegor Sharangovich and Dahlin among the skaters drafted in 2018.

Coming back to Svechnikov, his pace is just incredible. The top scorer of the 2017 auction, Elias Pettersson, has also passed the 100 mark this season.

A relief against the Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers will have nightmares thinking about the 22-year-old Russian. Not only did they give Svechnikov a hat-trick in a 7-2 loss at Raleigh on Thursday night, they did so on October 20.

The Alberta team will be happy to know that it was the last game against Svechnikov and Carolina this season…

“It’s special to be home and score my 100th goal. It was great,” he commented in a press conference after the game.

With 11 goals in 2022-2023, the winger leads by far all canes scorers. His 17 points put him in second place, level on points with Sebastian Aho and behind Martin Necas (19).

“He has been good to us this year and we need him. He’s leading the charge,” confirmed head coach Rod Brind’Amour.

The Hurricanes visit the Colorado Avalanche for their next game on Saturday.