Andrei Svechnikov

Andrei Igorevich Svechnikov (born 26 March 2000) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Hurricanes selected him second overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career[edit]

Svechnikov began his junior career in North America with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He signed a tender with the Lumberjacks in May 2016, due in part to proximity to his brother’s American Hockey League (AHL) team in Grand Rapids, Michigan.^[1] In the 2016–17 season, he led the team in scoring and finished sixth overall in the league. Svechnikov was named to the All-USHL Team and declared USHL Rookie of the Year.^[2][3]

Svechnikov was selected first overall in the 2017 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft by the Ontario Hockey League‘s (OHL) Barrie Colts.^[4] During his first season with the club, he recorded 40 goals and 32 assist for 72 points in 44 games. He was rewarded the Emms Family Award as rookie of the year.^[5] At the end of the season, he was the top-ranked North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.^[6]

At the draft, the Carolina Hurricanes selected Svechnikov second overall.^[7] On 30 June, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team.^[8]

Svechnikov made his NHL debut on 4 October 2018, going scoreless in a 2–1 loss to the New York Islanders.^[9] One day later, he recorded his first career NHL point (an assist) in a 3–1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.^[10] On 7 October, Svechnikov scored his first career NHL goal during an 8–5 win against the New York Rangers. In doing so, he became the first player born in the 2000s to score an NHL goal.^[11] Svechnikov finished his rookie season with 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points. He also recorded 5 points in 9 postseason games.

On 29 October 2019, Svechnikov become the first NHL player to score a “Michigan” goal, doing so against David Rittich in a 2–1 win over the Calgary Flames.^[12] He scored a similar goal on 17 December against the Winnipeg Jets.^[13] He greatly improved on his previous season’s totals, scoring 24 goals and 37 assists for 61 points. The Hurricanes matched up with the Rangers in the 2020 Qualifying Round.^[14] In Game 2 of the series, Svechnikov scored a hat-trick during a 4–1 win. The feat was the first in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers franchise postseason history.^[15]

Personal life[edit]

Svechnikov’s older brother, Evgeny, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Svechnikov originally comes from Barnaul in Siberia, but his family has relocated twice to access better teams and coaching for their sons. They first moved to the Moscow area, then Kazan.^[16]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2016–17	Muskegon Lumberjacks	USHL		48	29	29	58	68		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Barrie Colts	OHL		44	40	32	72	67		8	5	6	11	12
2018–19	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	20	17	37	62		9	3	2	5	9
2019–20	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		68	24	37	61	54		6	4	3	7	8
NHL totals				150	44	54	98	116		15	7	5	12	17

International[edit]

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015	Russia	U17			6	2	3	5	6
2016	Russia	WJC18	6th		5	2	0	2	2
2016	Russia	IH18			5	4	1	5	0
2016	Russia	U17			4	5	3	8	2
2017	Russia	WJC18			7	4	5	9	10
2018	Russia	WJC	5th		5	0	5	5	2
Junior totals					32	17	17	34	22

Awards and honours[edit]

Award	Year
USHL
First All-Star Team	2017
Rookie of the Year	2017
OHL
Emms Family Award (OHL Rookie of the Year)	2017–18