The 24-year-old forward made a big impact in his first postseason back from injury.

Last season, a lot was made about how much of an impact a healthy Andrei Svechnikov could have made in the playoffs.

After his performance this season, it’s safe to say that the Carolina Hurricanes power forward was so, so missed.

Svechnikov dealt with multiple injuries this season including missing the start of the season as he continued to rehab his ACL following surgery as well as two different oblique injuries, but he entered the playoffs healthy and what a force he was.

After being nearly a point-per-game player in the regular season, the Russian forward had two goals but 11 points in 11 games while also being a physically dominant, puck-possession monster.

Svechnikov had entire games where he simply took over and willed Carolina forward.

The Canes held their second round of exit interviews on Sunday following the conclusion of their 2023-24 season which ended after losing in six games to the New York Rangers in the second round of the playoffs.

Here’s what Svechnikov had to say:

On getting back to being healthy: I’m glad. Coming back from that injury it was not that easy. To play and just be with the boys and around it and playoffs as well was exciting. My first couple of months whenever I came back, I still felt it a little bit in my knee and it was hard at the time, but after a couple of months, I felt like I was 100% and ready to go.

On how he felt he grew as a player this year: Like I said, especially coming off of that injury, for me it was most important time that I recovery 100% and be in my kind of shape and play. Obviously I missed last year’s playoff, but this year, I felt like I learned something. Tried to go hard in every game and be the player who I am.

On what his offseason plans are: No plans. I didn’t make any plans to be honest. Going to stay here for a few weeks and figure it out after that. Maybe go back home for a month, I don’t know really.

On how he trained last offseason: Usually my training in the summer is running stuff and doing lots of stuff with my legs, but last summer I couldn’t. It wasn’t easy but [strength and conditioning coach] Billy B, he kept me in shape. It was pretty hard last summer, to be honest, working out with him and doing all the stuff with the legs. The slow jump and that sort of stuff, it was pretty hard.

On what the next step in his game is: Good question. I wasn’t even thinking about that, but I guess I’m going to be in the summer going back and watch some videos and some clips, but you always can improve yourself. That’s what I’m going to try and work on.

On if he felt his game helped to elevate Sebastian Aho: [Aho] always plays his way. He’s always the best player out there and maybe it helps him, but it doesn’t matter if I’m in or out, he’d always play the same way and that’s Fishy.

On if he’ll try to convince Martin Necas to stay: Yeah, I would love that. Obviously we’ve spent six years playing and knowing each other. We are so close that I would be sad if he leaves the team, but obviously I want him to stay here. I’ve been with him all these years.

On the team potentially losing a lot of pieces: Same with [Jordan Martinook] I hope he’ll stay here. It’s sad to kind of think about it, guys leaving. I remember my third year obviously [Dougie Hamilton] left and [Warren Foegele] left. Those times were pretty sad. Right now, I’m going to spend even more time with the boys. I don’t want to even think about it right now, but we’ll see what’s going to happen.

On Rod Brind’Amour: I’m very excited for Rod. Obviously he’s been huge for me. He’s the coach who gave me a chance to play in this league and I love working with him and I can’t wait for more.

On Pyotr Kochetkov: I think he got better. He got way better. He’s been unbelievable obviously playing in the season. He was kind of up and down and I know his story going through the AHL and all that stuff, trust me, it’s not easy when you have to kind of grind away. But he did it well, to be honest. He improved himself and proved to the team that he can be in this league and he can actually be a star in this league. If you ask me, first year, he came in and came from Russia and didn’t speak English and it was hard. Same for me my first year, but if you look back at right now, it’s like two different persons in a good way. He’s only going to get used to more and only going to get better on the ice as well.