Becoming a Playmaker: Logan Stankoven
5 questions on making the jump to the NHL and staying there.
We’re kicking off a new series, Becoming a Playmaker, where we ask top players, coaches, and agents five questions about what it actually takes to climb — and stay — at the highest levels of hockey.
First up: Logan Stankoven, Carolina Hurricanes
Back in February, months before leading the Carolina Hurricanes with 11 playoff goals en route to the Stanley Cup, Logan answered five questions for us directly over DM.
We asked him about making the jump to the NHL, earning trust, staying there, and what young players may underestimate about the highest level.
Here’s exactly what he told us.
1. The Biggest Jump — And What Made It Hard
What was the biggest jump in your career, and what specifically made it difficult at first?
The biggest jump in my career has been AHL to NHL and it's something I'm still navigating as the production or results haven't quite translated yet. The opportunities are limited at times and players in the NHL make very few mistakes so I'm learning how to score when I do get the chance. I've also found that the size of the players and goalies at the NHL level combined with the speed also makes creating opportunities a lot harder.
The takeaway: The jump from the AHL to the NHL isn’t simply about playing faster. Time and space disappear, mistakes are punished, and scoring opportunities are limited. Logan’s experience is a reminder that adapting to the next level is a process — even for elite players.
2. What Actually Let Him Stay at That Level
What changed that actually allowed you to stay at that level? Be specific.
I think my skill set and habits have allowed me to stick at the NHL level. My defensive game has come quite a ways since my junior hockey days and it's allowed me to be trusted in different situations. I also watch a lot of my own film as well as other players which I think is a great learning tool.
The takeaway: Staying at the highest level requires more than producing offense. Logan points to three things every developing player can control: improving defensively, building dependable habits, and studying film to better understand both his own game and the players around him.
3. The Detail Most Players Overlook
What's one detail you worked on obsessively that most players at lower levels tend to overlook?
One detail I've worked on lots since I've gotten to pro is having the puck on my backhand and working on shooting or passing. I feel like it's an underrated skill and some of the best players in the world are comfortable with their backhand. Guys like Crosby, Draisaitl etc.
The takeaway: A reliable backhand gives players more options under pressure. That means being able to receive, protect, pass, and shoot the puck without first moving it to the forehand. At higher levels, defenders will expose any skill a player cannot execute comfortably on both sides.
4. What It Takes to Keep Your Spot
What does it really take to keep your spot at your current level?
There's many things that factor into keeping your spot at the highest level. Your consistency, both on ice and off ice habits, mental resilience is a big one, being able to stay confident through the many ups and downs during the season.
The takeaway: Consistency, habits, and mental resilience are not fixed traits. They are skills players develop through their preparation, routines, and response to adversity. Earning an opportunity matters, but repeatedly showing that you can be trusted is what allows you to keep it.
5. What Would Surprise Young Players Most
What would surprise serious young players most about your level of hockey?
At the NHL level every night is a challenge and there's no "easy" games or weak teams. The most consistent teams and the ones that show up to compete will be the most successful over the course of the season.
The takeaway: Talent alone does not create separation when every opponent is capable. Over a long season, the teams and players who consistently prepare, compete, and execute are the ones that succeed.
🎯 The Playmaker Lesson
Across Logan’s answers, one theme keeps surfacing: earning trust matters as much as raw skill.
Improving defensively, studying film, developing his backhand, and staying mentally resilient all helped him become a more dependable player. Those details may not always make the highlight reel, but they’re often what separate players who get opportunities from the ones who keep them.
This week: Pick one part of your game that makes you more trustworthy to a coach or teammate — defending, puck management, preparation, communication, or consistency — and deliberately work on it.
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