Nov 1, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Kris Versteeg (32) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Hurricanes forward Kris Versteeg is quickly turning into a key piece of the team’s future.

Acquired via trade on September 11, 2015, Kris Versteeg figured to be a nice role player that could chip in some offense on a young, up and coming hockey team.

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So far this season, Versteeg has been far more than your average role player, and through the team’s 50 games played this season, he has been a big key to the team’s success, and he needs to be a part of it for a long time to come.

What makes this player so great is his ability to gel with everyone he is put with. He has struck a great rhythm with all of Eric Staal, Elias Lindholm, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Rask at different points in the season. He makes the players around him better, and his offensive instincts make whatever line his is on much better and more effective. It is no coincidence that he leads all Hurricanes forward in points going into the final game before the All-Star break.

It hasn’t been easy for Versteeg. The two-time Stanley Cup champion was a healthy scratch for a game against the Montreal Canadiens back on December 5 after going through a three game stretch with no points and a -2 rating.

Many thought that he had been thrown into Head Coach Bill Peters’ dog house, and whether that was true or not, he has pulled himself out over the past month and a half. Since being scratched in early December, he has picked up 16 points in 24 games while maintaining an even plus/minus.

Versteeg’s ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone while also limitting chances from the opposition is also admirable. He ranks 2nd amongst Carolina forward in corsi for percentage at 56.66%. He also ranks 2nd on the Canes in points per 60 minutes played with 1.82 points, behind just Phil Di Giuseppe who has north of 2 points per 60.

The 29-year-old forward also makes a big impact on the man advantage. His 8 powerplay points ranks 3rd on the team behind just Justin Faulk (16) and Victor Rask (12).

Coach Bill Peters has loved Versteeg’s play as of late, and he talked about him after Carolina’s 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Sunday night.

“He has a wife and a little one,” Peters said. “He’s in a good place in his life. Coach plays him, coach likes him.”

So, he definitely isn’t in the dog house any more, if he ever was in it, and he has moved on and started to play some of the best and most consistent hockey of his career.

With his contract set to expire this offseason, the Hurricanes must decide what they want to do with him moving forward. To me, the decision is easy – sign him to an extension and let him be a big part of the team’s future. He’s still just 29, and he has a lot of hockey ahead of him. His feisty personality and exciting style of play offensively makes him a great fit on the Canes, and a good player for the young core of the team to be around.

He has made it clear that he enjoys being a part of this team. “It’s been a blast so far,” Versteeg said following a 2-goal outing on Sunday. “We just have to keep it going.”

His ability to fit right into the locker room and develop a great level of chemistry with almost everyone he is put with can not be appreciated enough. You need a guy like that on your team, and if that guy just happens to be a 2-time Cup winner, that just makes it even better. He’s a winner.

Kris Versteeg has had his ups and downs in a Carolina Hurricanes uniform this season. but, so far, the ups have heavily outweighed the downs. Expect this player to continue being an impact player for the Canes for a long time to come.