K’Andre Miller, who played against Slavin the previous five seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Hurricanes this past offseason, said he has a whole new appreciation for his fellow defenseman.
“You hear about how good he is defensively, but I really didn’t get to appreciate it from an opponent’s standpoint,” Miller said. “Being on the same side now, getting to see the work he puts in daily and just the type of player he is, it’s not surprising how good he is.
“He holds the team accountable and pushes us in the right direction.”
It’s not been an easy season for Slavin. The 31-year-old sustained a lower-body injury in the second game of the season on Oct. 11 and was out until Dec. 14. He played three games before sustaining another lower-body injury on Dec. 19. Slavin returned to the lineup on Jan. 10 and played the final 12 games before the break.
On Thursday, he said he’s “feeling good, feeling fresh,” heading to the Olympics, and that’s a huge boost for the U.S. because of what he can do and what he can stop the other team from doing.
“He brings a calm confidence,” said Wild defenseman Brock Faber, who will also play for the U.S. “When he’s out on the ice, it just feels like everything is going to be OK. In my opinion, he’s the best defensive defenseman in the League and I think he should get a lot more recognition for what he brings to the table night in and night out.”
Since being selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round (No. 120) of the 2012 Draft, Slavin has 302 points (55 goals, 247 assists) in 762 games. The points don’t tell the story. For his career, which began in the 2015-16 season, he is plus-176, which is eighth in the NHL and second among U.S.-born players in that time frame, behind Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (plus-204). Since the start of the 2019-20 season, he’s plus-151, which is fifth best in the NHL and first among U.S.-born players.
Over Slavin’s 11 seasons, the Hurricanes have allowed an average of 2.70 goals per game, which is second best behind the Boston Bruins (2.65).
“Defensively, he’s an all-world player,” said Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, another U.S. teammate. “He’s extremely elite defensively.
“We play the game in a time where points are king, offensive (hockey) is king. No one shows up to watch a 1-0 game, but that might be the game Jaccob Slavin helps his team get a shutout.”
How much is Slavin respected among his fellow U.S. defensemen? Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators, who is on the Olympic team and played with Slavin at the 4 Nations Face-Off, said at the orientation camp that though the Norris Trophy usually goes to the best offensive defenseman in the NHL, there should be an award for the best defensive defensemen and it should be named after Slavin.
“Guys around the League know he’s probably the best defensive D-man in the League,” Sanderson said. “He skates so well, he’s so strong, his details. I think firsthand at 4 Nations, I saw how good his stick is. Not just with poke checks, but knocking down pucks, which is a huge skill to have, too. It was pretty cool to see him play.”