"He's an impact player in the league now. He has been for a while, but now it's on a nightly basis, or even a shift-by-shift basis," Rod Brind'Amour offered of the news, unsurprised by the selection. "It's pretty clear when he's on the ice and that's what All-Stars do."
One of just six players in the NHL to record multiple hat tricks this season, the Canes head coach further reflected on how far Svechnikov's game has come in just five short years.
"His whole game has improved since he first showed up. He obviously has had all the skill, but it's his understanding of the game at this level that's improved and it's because he's worked at it. He sits every day with [Assistant Coach Jeff Daniels]. They go over all the stuff and we talk a lot about Svech, but Jeff deserves a lot of credit for sitting down with him and teaching him all the things that he's got to do. He's receptive to it and that's the key. You've got to want to learn and I think that's why he's seeing improvements."
Svechnikov's 19 goals have him ranked inside the Top 20 league-wide and are the fifth-most among all Metropolitan Division skaters.
After calling his family members to share the good news, the first-time All-Star is now turning his attention to being in the moment at the event.
"I just want to have fun and meet the guys," one of six Russian-born players to be picked said. "It'll be a fun three days. You don't have many chances to do something like this, so I will try to enjoy as much of it as I can."
Quickly reminded that he's only 22 and there are hopefully many more All-Star selections ahead in his prosperous career, Svechnikov was also then nudged that he has to be prepared to defend the team's legacy at FLA Live Arena.
The organization may be able to pick up the rare three-peat in the NHL Accuracy Shooting at the Skills Competition the night before the All-Star Game, with Jaccob Slavin having won in 2020 and then Sebastian Aho last year.
"Let's do it. I'm ready," Svechnikov concluded with a laugh and a smile.
While the NHL typically does not assign players to certain events until the days leading up to All-Star Weekend, one would have to imagine that Svechnikov would be a legitimate threat in both the Accuracy Shooting or the Hardest Shot.
