One of the greatest revelations from last year's team was rookie Jackson Blake. After debuting during the season finale of the 2023-24 season, Blake was the surprise name on the Carolina Hurricanes' Opening Night roster last October. As the team's lone rookie, the forward with an NHL bloodline showed all of us how he did it.
Over the next nine months, Blake turned in one of the best rookie performances in team history. Not only were his numbers solid, but the coaching staff showed a lot of faith in him, especially during some high-leverage situations. The result was a massive payday this summer that Blake will enjoy beginning next season.