About Last Season: Brock McGinn Performance Review and Grade

Brock McGinn: 2017-18 By The Numbers

• Age: 24
• NHL seasons: 2+
• Scoring: 16 goals - 14 assists - 30 points
• Ice Time: 14:30 all situations, 12:58 at ES, 0:20 on PP, 1:12 on PK per game.
• 5-on-5 stats: 54.7% CF, 40.8% GF
• Contract Status: Beginning year two of a two-year deal worth $1.75 million total.

Making the Grade

In what amounted to his first full season as an every night player at the NHL level, after spending parts of two previous seasons attempting to crack the Hurricanes lineup, Brock McGinn became a reliable bottom-six winger who showed that at age 24, he may still have some offensive game to grow into. More than just an energy player (although he arguably brought that more often than any other Cane), McGinn flashed offense with his 16 goal season, and should be a member of the Canes lineup for the foreseeable future.

McGinn began the season with under 10 minutes of ice time fairly regularly, while bouncing between the third and fourth lines. His solid possession game slowly provided him with more opportunities to contribute. His output really became encouraging after he suffered through a goal-scoring drought following the November 28th contest with the Columbus Blue Jackets that lasted until January 9th, when McGinn potted a goal again. In all, the 18 game dry spell was his longest of the season, and during that time his grit and physical play was all that was keeping him in the lineup. From there however (exactly Game 41), McGinn notched 10 goals and five assists to finish the season, while averaging 15:37 of ice time.

While improvements in his offensive game are very much welcomed for a goal-hungry team, McGinn’s emergence as one of the team’s better penalty kill forwards was perhaps just as important to his development from fringe roster member to established player. As Carolina re-implemented a more aggressive PK as the season wore on, McGinn, along with Jordan Staal, were arguably the most dependable forwards to take part in that unit over the bulk of the season. A speedy asset, McGinn played the role of Victor Stalberg from the previous season. The Canes certainly hope McGinn to continue that PK production, while also continuing to develop the greater game which would make McGinn far more valuable than a specialist player.

No matter who the coach ends up being, expect McGinn to return to the Canes lineup, likely in the same bottom-six role, but hopefully surrounded by more well-rounded players who will allow McGinn to tap into his offensive reservoir, while maintaining a high level of defensive integrity. McGinn is not a player the Canes need to advance up the lineup card, as to be a good team in the NHL you need solid and dependable players throughout your lineup. The Canes hope to build from the promise displayed last season by McGinn and begin to build a roster that can establish a consistent compete level night in and night out. Expect McGinn to be an important part of that increased depth.