Brock McGinn 2019-20 By The Numbers

• Age: 26
• NHL Seasons: 5
• Games Played: 68
• Scoring: 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points
• Average Ice Time: 10:44 ES, 0:03 PP, 2:25 SH
• Contract Status: Completed year one of a two-year contract at $2.1 million AAV

After scoring one of the biggest goals in Carolina Hurricanes’ history in double overtime of game seven against the Capitals, Brock McGinn was due for a raise. Coming off a contract that saw his AAV at just $887,500, one of the best defensive forwards for the Canes got his raise in the form of a two-year $2.1 million dollar AAV heading in to the 2019-20 season.

Despite his massive goal last season, McGinn’s NHL career has never been about scoring. While he was very good offensively in juniors, having put up 85 points for Guelph in his final season there, McGinn has transformed in to a defensive specialist throughout his NHL career.

McGinn’s offensive downfalls continued in the 2019-20 season as he posted just 17 points ,including a stretch where he only had four points in 26 games. Just like Jordan Staal, McGinn’s role isn’t to score, however, you would like to see him get closer to the 30-point mark than 20. The bright side to his offense is that two of his goals were shorthanded, which is where McGinn shines the most.

Since his NHL debut, McGinn has the second most short-handed time on ice of any Hurricane following only Staal. He led the team in short-handed TOI this season playing over 164 minutes with the team down a man. The next closest was Staal at 159 minutes but then there is a considerable drop off to Sebastian Aho at third with just 122 minutes.

Considering the Hurricanes penalty kill ranked 4th overall in the NHL and has consistently been near the top of the league for the past few seasons, it is easy to see why McGinn is so valuable to the team. His willingness to block shots is almost unheard of in today’s league and the grit he brings to the team is underappreciated. If there is one guy you want on the ice when you need to preserve a lead or kill a penalty, it’s Brock McGinn.

While McGinn’s 2019-2020 season was nothing flashy, he did win an award for one of his performances on the ice.

As the leader of the top Storm Surge, McGinn’s Thor interpretation will live on in the Hurricanes’ history books forever.

Other than his Surge antics, there is nothing flashy about Brock McGinn. His offense leaves much to desire and nobody ever gets recognized enough for their defensive efforts no matter how great they may be (see Jaccob Slavin’s Norris Trophy odds). But without McGinn’s presence on the penalty kill and defending the lead late in games, the Hurricanes would certainly not be nearly as good as they were.

His play may go unnoticed to the naked eye, but Brock McGinn is the kind of player every team needs to have if they want to be successful.