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Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Hurricanes’ Stankoven & Blake Continue to Check Off Career Milestones

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Zach Martin | Last updated Apr 10, 2026 10:15 AM ET

As the 2025-26 regular season is another day closer to finishing, the Carolina Hurricanes are in a fight for the Eastern Conference first-seed after clinching a playoff berth and the Metropolitan Division. Throughout the season, the Hurricanes have seen milestones being checked off throughout the roster. For two of their younger players, they are only getting started as impact players in Raleigh.

Young Guns Checking Off Milestone Boxes

Regarding Jackson Blake, his sophomore season came with high expectations, and he has certainly lived up to them. Ahead of the season, The Hockey Writers asked him about his mindset going into his second season in the NHL. For him, it was about getting better, knowing he was staying in Raleigh for the next nine seasons after signing an eight-year extension in the summer.

After the win on Saturday, April 4, against the New York Islanders, THW asked him about how he’s feeling on his season so far before the games against the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks. He stated, “I obviously am a guy who always wants the best for myself and pushes myself pretty hard to take it to that standard to not only have success but just to help the team win. Playing my role, and I think there’s even a lot more in me, too. I think last year was more of a learning curve for me. But this year I think it’s gone pretty well for the most part, took a big step, and hopefully continue to grow.”

Safe to say he’s been checking off milestone after milestone this season. After the Hurricanes’ 7-2 win on Thursday night (April 9) against the Blackhawks, Blake has 22 goals, 30 assists, and 52 points in 79 games. His secondary assist on the second Logan Stankoven goal gave him 30 assists for the first time in his young career. It speaks to how Blake is always striving to get better, and he’s only 22 years old, discussing how he has more in himself to get to another level. Going from 17 goals and 34 points in his rookie season to 22 goals and 52 points with three games left in the season is remarkable.

When it comes to Stankoven, his first full season with the Hurricanes saw some learning curves for the 23-year-old. It was the first time in a long time that he was mainly deployed as a center, and as the season went on, he kept getting better. Including the game against the Blackhawks on Thursday night, Stankoven has seven goals in the last six games. His first goal on the night gave him 20 on the season, the first time he has joined the 20-goal club in his career.

After 79 games, Stankoven has 21 goals, 21 assists, and 42 points. While he is still three assists away from tying his career-high of 24 last season, his 21 goals and 42 points continue the progression of those new benchmarks. Despite going through some stretches where the puck couldn’t find its way into the net, Stankoven kept his head down and continued to grind. He has shown why the Hurricanes believed in him to be their second-line center, and now the goals are coming in bunches.

What’s great for the Hurricanes is that Blake and Stankoven begin their new eight-year extensions next season. Both players are staying in Raleigh through the 2033-34 season. What’s more impressive? Stankoven is expected to make $6 million per season, while Blake is making $5.117 million. This is only the beginning for Stankoven and Blake as they are expected to be part of the next core in Carolina alongside Seth Jarvis. If they keep this upward trajectory in their careers, these guys could become stars not only in Raleigh but in the NHL as a whole.