Story by
Sebastian Aho Surpasses Eric Staal In Two Major Franchise Categories
- Story by
- Sebastian Aho Surpasses Eric Staal In Two Major Franchise Categories
James Guillory-Imagn Images
Sebastian Aho is no longer just a star player for the Carolina Hurricanes. He has officially joined the very top of the all-time list. On Thursday night against the New York Islanders, Aho recorded two assists to reach 80 career multi-assist games. That single game moved him past Eric Staal for second place in franchise history. The only player ahead of him is Ron Francis, who holds the record with 163 such games.
A Night That Rewrites The Record Books
Aho finished with a plus-3 rating and helped the team secure a 5-3 victory. Per Peter Dewar and Walt Ruff of Hurricanes.com, "Aho's 80th career multi-assist game passed Eric Staal for second-most in franchise history behind Ron Francis (163)." It was not just about assists though. The same night also saw Aho notch his 187th career multi-point game. Dewar and Ruff also wrote that, according to Heavy.com , "Thursday's effort also marked Aho's 187th career multi-point game, once again surpassing Eric Staal for second place on the franchise's all-time list behind Ron Francis (297)." Passing Staal in two separate categories on one night is rare.
Advertisement
The Gap To The Top Is Closing Fast
Eric Staal spent 12 seasons in Raleigh and helped the team win the Cup in 2006. He finished his career with 1,063 points and 455 goals. Aho is already close to beating him in goals. Reports note Aho has 319 goals and 415 assists in 774 games. He is only 41 points away from tying Staal and 42 away from passing him. At his current pace, he could tie the mark by the end of November. Staal was a great captain, but Aho is playing at a level that demands respect right now. His 734 total points show he has been a producer for a decade.
A Franchise Cornerstone For The Future
The Hurricanes are looking to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions, and Aho is the engine. The Hurricanes have recorded a plus-24 goal differential this season, the best margin in the league. That dominance starts with Aho's two-way play. This season, he is tracking a career-best 107 points at an 84-game pace. His previous high was 89 points in 2023-24. If he keeps this up, he will pass Staal in goals soon and keep climbing toward Ron Francis's 1,175 points.
