'These guys have molded me into whatever I am right now': Seth Jarvis on Playing Through Injury, Personal Growth and Overall Development

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis had a career year in his third NHL season setting new highs in goals, assists and points.

Jarvis was also a staple on the team's top power play and penalty kill units and his overall game grew by leaps and bounds.

The feisty forward picked a good time to breakout too as his ELC has expired and he'll be looking for a much bigger deal as an RFA.

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 Jarvis had to say:

On his injury status: About 15 games in, I tore my labrum and rotator cuff in my right shoulder. Just kind of dealt with it sliding in and out a lot. That little jacket helped and so the last half of the year wearing that made it pretty easy. It slid out a few times again though. I also broke my finger in the Islanders series and that was just more annoying. You shoot it up and it gets all numb and gross and bloody. But the shoulder wasn't fun to deal with.

On if he'll need surgery for the shoulder: I don't think so, but I'm also not a medical professional so... I don't know.

On getting his scoring touch back: I was proud with the bounce back. I don't think I scored on a single breakaway this year so that's something I have to address, but I think just being able to capitalize more and it felt more natural again being able to score. Coming from junior, scoring and then losing it a little bit, being able to find it again and have success was really good just for my confidence and just going into next year.

On what the guys on the team have meant to him: I don't even have words for it. These guys have molded me into whatever I am right now and really I came in here quieter and they let me be myself. They let me be a little outrageous at times, a little loud, stupid, but they never for one second made me feel like I had to change myself or change who I was and I'll forever be grateful for that because when you come in, it's a little intimidating when you're younger and you have all these legends in the locker room, but the way they treated me from day one to now, I owe them everything. It's been the best ride.

On him actually being quiet at one point: I was scared of people when I first came in here. I didn't want to step on any toes, but now I'm jumping on everyone's feet. It's been a wicked change in personality.

On playoff experience: I think everyone wants to play in the playoffs. It's more experience and a cool feeling. It's what everyone dreams of. Being able to have as many playoff games as I do at this age is special, but obviously we haven't done anything yet. That's kind of the goal.

On if he's thought at all about his next contract: No. I don't know. I was focused on playing hockey and having fun. That's something that we're going to have to figure out. Obviously it's going to be up to what they want to do with me here and what they see fit, but yeah. I've never been in the situation before so it's new, going to feel it out a little bit, talk to the people in my circle and hopefully, hopefully be a Caniac next year, but we'll see.

On what it will take for the team to get over the hump: There's a few things running through my mind. I don't know. It's still so fresh. We've said the same thing before, the power play in those first three games, if you get just one goal, it's a whole different series, a whole different game. So that's kind of the easy bailout answer but it's true. We found it later in the series, but we didn't find it quick enough to make an impact.

On Rod Brind'Amour's contract extension: He's kind of the heart and soul of this organization, so it's great to see. It's awesome for him. I know everyone is super pumped to have him back in the organization and have him around again. It's just really good for the culture in here.

On the best prank from this season: There wasn't a lot. I don't know. There wasn't a ton of pranks going on. I just got verbally abused mostly here. That was kind of it.

On how he was able to play through a torn labrum and rotator cuff: I like hockey. I enjoy it and want to play. I'll do whatever I want or need to to get out there. I didn't want to miss this opportunity with this kind of group. It's something that I was a little uncomfortable with to start, but as you play and kind of get past that mental block, it's nothing too hard.

On how the injury occurred: It was in Philadelphia. I just kind of fell weird. It wasn't a hit. I fell, like an idiot, trying to skate and it just... the most, weirdest kind of sensation and you could kind of hear it and feel it tear, pop and everything under the sun. Scares you a little bit because I had never been through that, but at some point it just becomes a new normal and now hopefully just with rest and a lot of rehab, I'll be good to go.

On if he feels there's still so much he can achieve when he's fully healthy : I think there's a lot of levels to reach. I don't think I've really scratched much of the surface. There's so many things in my game I want to improve and need to improve. It's almost like having that little injury in the back of my mind freed me up a little bit just because I knew if I could play through this, I'll block a shot or take whatever and be okay. I think it made me play a little more fearless just knowing I could play through that kind of pain and still have success.

On not chasing top dollars: I mean, yeah. I'm open to anything. I think [Brett Pesce] really hit it on the head yesterday with his words, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

On the areas he wants to improve in: Keep learning how to score. That's a big thing in this league, being able to score the puck. Just work on that side of my game and defensively, faceoffs is a big one. That last Ranger game, losing that faceoff that led to the power play goal was something that's going to hurt for a little bit, so I have to work on that. But just little details in my game. Right now, it's just about getting healthy and making sure I'm ready to go for next year.

On finishing eighth in Selke voting: It was cool to get a little recognition and see that, but it's a long way from first and I got [Jordan Staal] to jump over still. I have great role models in that aspect of the game and guys I'm still learning a lot from. 

On what he attributes his defensive growth to the most: It's weird, but probably just the care factor. I think everyone has the ability to do it. It's something you do in the game, but I think being able to care about it and take pride in it, especially in situations like the penalty kill and playoff hockey. I think that's something that really changed for me, seeing that side of the game. [Staal] did a good job in brining that out of me and showing me that you might not score every night, but making sure their top line doesn't score is just as good. So it's been fun to learn from him and a lot of that success comes from him.

On what the first thing he'll purchase with his new contract will be: That's a long ways away, but probably just helping out my family. Making sure everyone's straight back home. Maybe spoil my buddies a little bit. They've been working hard and in my corner for my whole life. I got a good, little group of friends that may need a vacation or something.