Sebastian Antero Aho (born 26 July 1997) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a forward and alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected by Carolina in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2015 NHL entry draft, Aho made his NHL debut during the 2016–17 NHL season after playing in Finland's Liiga for Oulun Kärpät and Ässät. Internationally, Aho has won medals with Finland at the World Junior Championships, World Championships and Winter Olympics, including bronze at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2026.

Playing career Liiga Aho made his Liiga debut playing with Oulun Kärpät during the 2013–14 season. In the playoffs of the 2014–15 season, Aho scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game seven of the finals and won the Finnish championship for Kärpät.

Carolina Hurricanes Aho was rated amongst the top 20 European forward skaters eligible for the 2015 NHL entry draft. In the draft, he was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes.

On 13 June 2016, Aho signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Carolina. On 13 October 2016, he made his NHL debut—and recorded his first point, an assist—in the opening game of the 2016–17 season. On 12 November 2016, he scored his first goal, which was followed by a second goal in a 5–1 win over the Washington Capitals. On 31 January 2017, Aho scored his first career hat-trick in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Consequently, he became the youngest player in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score a hat-trick.

After the Hurricanes failed to make the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Aho represented Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

During the 2018–19 season, Aho passed Ron Francis' franchise record for longest season-opening point streak by recording a point in the Hurricanes' first 12 games. The streak also included a 12-game season-opening assist streak, tying Wayne Gretzky and Ken Linseman for the longest such streak in NHL history. His streak ended on 3 November in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. On 2 January, Aho was selected to participate in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game after leading the team in goals, assists and points through 38 games. On 13 January 2019, Aho recorded his second career hat-trick in a 6–3 win over the Nashville Predators. Aho led the Hurricanes in scoring (five goals, seven assists) during their first trip to the playoffs in 10 years in the 2018–19 season.

On 1 July 2019, Aho signed an offer sheet with the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first player to sign an offer sheet since Ryan O'Reilly in 2013. The five-year offer sheet was worth $42.27 million and included a bonus-heavy structure, with more than $21 million owed during the first calendar year. On 7 July, the Hurricanes matched the offer sheet, re-signing Aho to a five-year, $42.27 million contract.

On 26 July 2023, the Hurricanes re-signed Aho to an eight-year, $78 million contract extension. The deal began with the 2024–25 NHL season and pays Aho an average annual value of $9.75 million through the 2031–32 season.

During the 2023–24 season, Aho recorded an NHL career-high 89 points, with 36 goals and 53 assists, in 78 games. He led the Hurricanes in goals, assists and points, and was selected to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.

During the 2024–25 season, Aho led Carolina in assists and points, recording 74 points, with 29 goals and 45 assists, in 79 games.

During the 2025–26 season, Aho led the Hurricanes with 80 points, recording 27 goals and 53 assists in 79 regular-season games. He added 12 points, with five goals and seven assists, in 19 playoff games as Carolina won the 2026 Stanley Cup Final over the Vegas Golden Knights.

International play

Aho represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he was named one of Finland's alternate captains. Finland defeated Slovakia 6–1 in the bronze-medal game, and Aho finished the tournament with four goals.

Personal life Aho was born in the Satakunnan keskussairaala in Pori, but his legal birthplace is Rauma.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2012–13 Kärpät FIN U18 38 28 32 60 32 — — — — — 2012–13 Kärpät FIN U20 5 2 2 4 0 5 0 1 1 2 2013–14 Kärpät FIN U18 2 3 3 6 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Kärpät FIN U20 44 25 34 59 18 12 4 8 12 10 2013–14 Kärpät Liiga 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2014–15 Kärpät FIN U20 10 1 9 10 4 5 1 4 5 2 2014–15 Kärpät Liiga 27 4 7 11 10 10 1 2 3 2 2014–15 Ässät Liiga 3 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 2015–16 Kärpät Liiga 45 20 25 45 2 14 4 11 15 8 2016–17 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 24 25 49 26 — — — — — 2017–18 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 78 29 36 65 24 — — — — — 2018–19 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 30 53 83 26 15 5 7 12 2 2019–20 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 68 38 28 66 26 8 3 9 12 4 2020–21 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 56 24 33 57 32 11 6 5 11 12 2021–22 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 79 37 44 81 38 14 4 7 11 12 2022–23 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 75 36 31 67 42 15 5 7 12 12 2023–24 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 78 36 53 89 36 11 4 8 12 2 2024–25 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 79 29 45 74 46 15 7 8 15 8 2025–26 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 79 27 53 80 46 19 5 7 12 10Liiga totals 78 24 35 59 12 24 5 13 18 10NHL totals 756 310 401 711 342 108 39 58 97 62

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2013 Finland IH18 5th 4 0 0 0 2 2014 Finland WJC18 6th 5 2 1 3 4 2014 Finland IH18 5th 4 5 2 7 0 2015 Finland WJC 7th 5 0 0 0 2 2015 Finland WJC18 1 0 1 1 0 2016 Finland WJC 7 5 9 14 4 2016 Finland WC 10 3 4 7 4 2016 Finland WCH 8th 3 0 0 0 0 2017 Finland WC 4th 10 2 9 11 4 2018 Finland WC 5th 8 9 9 18 2 2025 Finland 4NF 4th 3 0 2 2 2 2026 Finland OG 6 4 2 6 2Junior totals 26 12 13 25 12Senior totals 40 18 26 44 14

Awards and honours Award Year RefNHL NHL All-Star Game 2019, 2022, 2024 Stanley Cup champion 2026 International World Championships best forward 2018

References

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