Svechnikov making the most of rookie season: “Never seen a work ethic like that”

There’s been ups and downs, for sure.

It’s the case with almost every 18-year-old learning the ins and outs of the National Hockey League.

But the upside in Andrei Svechnikov?

It’s been there regardless of the rises and falls.

“He’s just a great kid,” said Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, himself a veteran of 1,484 regular-season skates over an illustrious 20-year NHL career.

“I can’t say enough good things about him. He wants to learn. The learning curve is there for sure. He’s behind the eight ball a little bit as far as the defensive side of things, as most 18-year-olds you would expect coming into the NHL. He wants to learn and he wants to get better every day.

“And then the fact that now you’re starting to see if you watch, he’s hanging onto pucks. He’s not afraid to make plays and he’s got that physical presence already. For a young kid, he can handle himself. I just think he’s going to get better and better.”

Svechnikov, on his resume, has 49 games under his belt with the Hurricanes, who made him the No. 2 pick behind Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the 2018 NHL Draft.

He’s got 12 goals, 10 assists and a whole lot of lessons under his belt in that time.

“At the beginning of the season I was adjusting,” said Svechnikov, who has a share of second for goals among first-year skaters and is tied for sixth in points.

“It feels great right now.

“I knew it was going to be hard. It’s a physical game and it’s older guys. More physical game. You have to be ready everywhere, in the offensive zone and neutral zone.

“I think it’s the biggest difference. It’s hockey. It’s a physical game. It’s faster. You just have to make your decisions quicker.”

He’s adapting.

He’s teachable, too.

“He’s not entitled,” said Carolina captain Justin Williams, 37, with 1,211 games to his credit. “He doesn’t feel like he deserves everything. He’s gone out and he’s earned it and he’s worked his butt off to do it.

‘That makes it a lot easier for the older players to teach him how to be a pro.

“He’s very mature for being 18 years old. He works hard. I’ve actually never seen a work ethic like that…probably too much to be honest. After games he’s shooting pucks for an hour outside of the arena into an empty net. There’s just lots of things that he does where you’re like ‘okay, I never had that when I was 18.’ He strives to be great.

“He’s hard on himself, which at times can be a downside, but ultimately it boils down to he wants to be great, wants to be an impact player.

“He’s a great kid.”

Determined, too.

Svechnikov came to North America as a 16-year-old, spending the 2016-17 campaign with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League.

There, he scored 29 goals and added 29 assists in 48 games to earn a rookie of the year nod, among other accolades.

He was the first overall selection in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft that summer, and moved on to join the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League in 207-18.

There, he had 40 goals and 72 points in just 42 games — both league-leading totals among first-year players — to earn the CHL’s Top Draft Prospect Award.

“It was my plan playing in the USHL for one year and move to Canada and hopefully I can make it at that age in the NHL,” Svechnikov said. “That was kind of my plan.

“It’s worked so far.”

Suffice to say it has.

After a stopover at the NHL Draft last June, he’s earned his way into Carolina’s lineup for each and every game.

It’s a tip of the hat to a freshman forward.

“First of all, he’s a humble guy,” said Sebastian Aho, who leads the Hurricanes with 22 goals, 33 assists, and 55 points this season.

“He works hard. He stays out every practice (late). He’s pretty much the last guy off. That’s how you should do it if you want to be a regular in this league. He knows he’s good, but he’s so humble. On the ice, in the games, he’s a special player. You can see. He’s a big body already. He’s going to be even stronger. He’s really strong already. He’s a good skater. He has all the skills.

“He’s going to be a good player.”

Even with some bumps along the way.

“He’s already a really good player, but great player for this team in this league,” Aho said.

“He has it all.

“He has size.

“He’s a good skater.

“He has all the skills.

“Obviously the work ethic he has, it’s really good.”