Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin is showcasing his talent during his team’s run in the 2019 NHL Playoffs. 

Slavin, 25, was drafted in the fourth round, 120th overall in 2012 by the Hurricanes and spent two years developing with the NCAA’s Colorado College.

It was in the NCAA where Slavin had a longstanding opportunity to fine-tune his defensive game, where a lowly Tigers team went 13-50-9 between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Slavin led his team in scoring during his freshman season with five goals and 25 points in 32 games. In 66 total appearances with the Tigers, he recorded 10 goals and 42 points.

The Colorado native signed an entry-level contract with the Hurricanes ahead of the 2015-16 campaign; he began the season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers before earning an NHL opportunity after just 14 games.

An immediate impact on both sides of the ice earned the rookie a full-time gig in Carolina, where a rebuilding Hurricanes team was gaining strength within the league.

Fast-forward to 2018-19 and Slavin has been a key contributor through three full seasons, offering moderate, but consistent point production from the backend. Slavin’s NHL career numbers don’t jump off the page—309 GP, 23 G, 92 A, 115 pts., plus-25—but that doesn’t make him any less integral to the Hurricanes.

He’s been a widely underrated defenseman during his short NHL career, capturing the eyes of both sides of the hockey world with admiration from the analytics community in addition to those who prefer the simple method of visual evaluation. 

I feel like I’m officially “one of us” now because I’m stunned people are still doing the “Jaccob Slavin is an undiscovered genius” thing like he’s Good Will Hunting.

— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) April 30, 2019

Slavin is in the first year of a seven-year, $37.1 million contract extension ($5.3 AAV) signed in July 2017. He has maintained his high-level of play with his third-straight 30-point season, maintaining a dedication to his own zone under a new coach, new systems, and increased pressure.

But playing at a high level just comes natural to Slavin, whose defensive play has seen him finish top 10 in the NHL in each of the past three seasons in takeaways, including leading all defensemen twice and finishing second to only Brent Burns in 2018-19.

The extension and significant raise display the level of trust and expectations the organization placed in Slavin nearly two years ago. Now, as the surprise team of the 2018-19 season, the Hurricanes snapped a nine-year playoff drought and Slavin is at the forefront.

The defenseman is beginning to shed his label as an underrated player, leading the Hurricanes with 10 points (all assists) through nine games this postseason, where they defeated the defending champions Washington Capitals in the opening round and hold a 2-0 series lead over the New York Islanders for a bid to the Eastern Conference Final.

But the ultimate goal remains, as the Hurricanes’ quest for the Stanley Cup is still a long path, one that Slavin will be leading.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.