Jackson Blake has played 46 NHL games this season, and in his 46th game on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, he was placed on the Carolina Hurricanes’ top line alongside Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Blake, a rookie forward, scored his 10th goal of the season in the Canes’ 3-2 victory at the Lenovo Center. To put his progress into perspective, at this time last year, Blake was still playing college hockey at North Dakota, where the Fighting Hawks played a 40-game schedule from October to March. This season, with the condensed January schedule, the Canes have had almost daily games, including a Monday matchup in Chicago against the Blackhawks.
Blake, 21, commented on the demanding schedule, admitting it’s a lot more than he’s used to, as the most games he played in juniors was 60. In college, games were typically limited to Friday and Saturday, with a break on Sunday or even Monday. However, Blake expressed enjoyment of the NHL’s pace, saying he was not going to complain about playing in the league, whether it’s 80 or 40 games. Despite being 5-11 and 178 pounds, Blake has impressed with his skill, agility, and smart offensive decisions. Throughout much of his rookie year, Blake has been positioned on the Canes’ fourth line, often centered by Jack Drury, who shares a similar college background.
However, after a disappointing loss to Buffalo, coach Rod Brind’Amour moved Blake to the top line with Aho and Svechnikov for the game against Vegas. Blake’s goal, which came off a fortunate bounce when Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin accidentally knocked the puck into his own net, gave the Canes a 2-1 lead early in the third period. The Golden Knights later tied it, but Seth Jarvis’ second goal of the game secured a 3-2 victory for Carolina. Blake’s 10 goals rank him third among NHL rookies, with five of those goals being game-winners, tying him with Martin Necas for the team lead.
Reflecting on his rookie season, Blake noted that the first 10-12 games were about adjusting to the faster pace of the league and understanding what was expected of him. He mentioned that he was satisfied with his progress but remained focused on continuing to grow, particularly in contributing more offensively. Blake’s ice time has averaged nearly 12 minutes per game, peaking at 17:57 in a November game against Utah. Seven of his goals have come at even strength, and he has converted 15.4% of his 65 shots.
Blake, drafted in the fourth round by Carolina in 2021, still receives feedback from his father, former NHL forward Jason Blake, after each game. He appreciates the constructive criticism, which he says comes from a place of love. Off the ice, Blake stays in touch with friends through video games like Fortnite and makes sure to keep up with his conditioning, focusing on maintaining his weight through proper nutrition, though he admits to indulging in a little cheat food now and then.
