Foegele emerging as big surprise for Hurricanes

Warren Foegele wasn't expected to be one of the top rookies for the Carolina Hurricanes this season.

Andrei Svechnikov, the No. 2 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, and Martin Necas, the No. 12 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, were, and have been.
Svechnikov has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games and is expected to be a contender for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Necas has two points (one goal, one assist).
But the leading rookie scorer for the Hurricanes, and perhaps their biggest surprise, is Foeglee, 22, who has five points (three goals, two assists).
"He's has been really, really good," said Jordan Staal, the center on Foegle's line with captain Justin Williams. "He's a big body [6-foot-2, 190] that can move. He's got some sneaky good hands and good vision and a good shot. So he's got that whole package and he's driven to work, too, so that makes it fun.
"That's my style of play as well and I really enjoy playing with him. He brings it to the net hard and lots and creates a lot of havoc and stuff like that. He's been good for us and he's made me a lot better this year."
The Hurricanes, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive season in 2017-18, have been better, too. They are 4-2-1 heading into their game against the Colorado Avalanche at PNC Arena on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; FS-E, ALT, NHL.TV).
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, an assistant under Bill Peters last season, said Foegele wasn't in Carolina's plans before the season started, but the third-round selection (No. 67) in the 2014 NHL Draft earned a spot in camp because of his competitiveness and work ethic.
"We didn't have him penciled in or anything," Brind'Amour said. "But he went out and made us keep him. He's been a real pleasant surprise."
Foegele came to training camp this season with his confidence on the upswing. He was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League for two games last season and had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on March 26.
He scored the next night against the New Jersey Devils.

"Last year was pretty exciting, then scoring my first NHL goal in my first game on my first shot, that's something I never imagined," Foegele said. "So going into the summer I knew that with the (Jeff) Skinner trade (to Buffalo, for forward Cliff Pu and three draft picks Aug. 2), there would definitely be a spot open. I had the mindset that I needed to come in here and take that spot. For confidence, that was huge. Last year I was so nervous and this year I knew what to expect and how I could perform."
He admitted that playing with Staal and Williams has him doing the odd double-take.
"It's been a privilege to play with those guys," he said. "There have been a couple of times I've had to pinch myself and it would be like, 'Wow, there's three Stanley Cups for (Williams) and one for Staal.' That's pretty crazy but they've been great to me and as a line, I think we've built some chemistry."
Staal said it was clear to him that Foegele had gone another step up from last season.
"He came up last year and played really well but he came in this year even better," Staal said. "He seemed to obviously work hard this summer but came in with some jam and really played well right from the start."
While Foegele was trying to establish himself with Charlotte last season, he found a simple strategy that paid off in a big way.
"We had a really good team in Charlotte and I was in the lower part of the lineup, so I had a find a way to contribute in some way and I thought scoring goals would definitely be one way," he said.
Foegele's 28 goals last season were second on the Checkers behind Valentin Zykov (33) and he had an AHL-leading nine game-winners.

Charlotte coach Mike Vellucci said Foegele might have sold himself a bit short last season in the AHL.
"Kids sometimes get confused by what lines they're on," Vellucci said. "He played mostly with Clark Bishop and Patrick Brown and to me, that was our most reliable, go-to line. I could play them any time against anybody and at the end of games. He may have thought he was in the bottom group, but not necessarily."
Vellucci said Foegele incorporated work ethic and tenacity with his skill to continue to surprise him throughout the season.
"He does everything he's asked to do and more, because he's not a big talker or a show boater or a self-promoter," Vellucci said. "He's constantly motoring. He just wants to be in the NHL and nothing's going to stop him."
Vellucci remembers calling Foegele during the 2017 Ontario Hockey League playoffs when he was playing for Erie. Foegele had 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games and won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as playoff MVP.
"I told him I knew he wasn't on the top power-play unit but that I noticed he wasn't pouting about it and just playing his game," Vellucci said. "I told him I was proud of him for that, that he was putting the team first and wanted to the team to do well.
"He said to me, 'You noticed that? I'm sure happy somebody (knew) that.' But that's the kind of kid he is.
"He's such a good person; that's one of the things you notice. Selfless, not selfish, that's the best way I can explain it."