About Last Season: Lucas Wallmark Performance Review and Grade

Lucas Wallmark: 2018-19 By The Numbers

• Age: 23
• NHL Season: One full, two partial
• Games played: 81
• Scoring: 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points
• Ice Time: 14:48 all situations
• 5 on 5 stats: 54.1 CF%, 46.7% oZS, 53.3% oDS
• Contract: Restricted free agent after 2019-20 season

Making The Grade

It seemed all but inevitable that Lucas Wallmark would get his shot at the NHL as the 2018-19 season approached. He thrived for the Checkers in two seasons in Charlotte, ranking top-5 in team scoring for back-to-back seasons. After a strong training camp, Wallmark made the team.

Wallmark fit nicely into his bottom-six role in Raleigh despite being relied on as a top-six forward in Charlotte. As a versatile forward, Wallmark was cycled through different linemates to start the season, including a lengthy stint with Jordan Martinook and Andrei Svechnikov. Later in the season, as Svechnikov moved higher up the lineup and Martinook struggled with injuries, he played alongside Micheal Ferland and Saku Maenalanen to end the postseason. With 28 points, Wallmark was a great source of secondary scoring and routinely drove play alongside his linemates.

Wallmark rarely took a night off, even if sometimes it got the best of him:

In the playoffs, Wallmark had a strong series against the Washington Capitals and finished with 5 points in 15 games. Being reunited with Svechnikov at points helped, including on a beautiful feed in Game 1.

Moving forward, Wallmark’s role could shift if Martin Necas is brought up to Raleigh and slotted in as a center. It would force Wallmark down to a permanent 4th line role. However, if head coach Rod Brind’Amour is not ready for Necas to center a line - which seems likely given he spent most of the season on the wing with the Checkers - he may slot in on Wallmark’s wing on the third line. Wallmark could be a great example to Necas and showing him the ropes on the jump to the NHL, similar to his role with Svechnikov this past season.

Wallmark’s contract shouldn’t be much of an issue after next season but he will likely get at least a raise of his current salary of $675K. The Swedish forward is a strong piece of the Hurricanes bottom six and will likely stick around for years to come.

Exit Interview