History of Carolina Hurricanes in Timeline

The Carolina Hurricanes are an NHL team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, competing in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division. Their home arena is the PNC Arena.

1938: Chicago Black Hawks Fail to Defend Title

In 1938-39, the Chicago Black Hawks became the first champions to fail to qualify for the playoffs both the seasons before and after their championship season.

November 1971: New England Whalers Established

In November 1971, the New England Whalers were established when the World Hockey Association (WHA) awarded a franchise to begin play in Boston, Massachusetts.

1971: Franchise Formed as New England Whalers

In 1971, the Carolina Hurricanes franchise was formed as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

1972: Eastern Division Win

In 1972, the New England Whalers won the Eastern Division in the WHA's first season.

1972: Franchise Record Broken

In 2004-05, the Hurricanes finished the regular season with 112 points, shattering the previous franchise record of 94 points (in the WHA) set by the 1972–73 Whalers.

1972: Rick Ley's Playing Career

Rick Ley played from 1972–1981 and his number 2 was returned to circulation in 1997.

1973: Avco World Trophy Championship

In 1973, the New England Whalers became the inaugural Avco World Trophy Champions.

1974: Move to Hartford

In 1974, the New England Whalers decided to move the team to Hartford, Connecticut.

January 11, 1975: First Game at Hartford Civic Center Coliseum

On January 11, 1975, the New England Whalers played their first game in front of a sellout crowd at the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum.

1977: John Mckenzie's Playing Career

John McKenzie played from 1977–1979 and his number 19 was returned to circulation in 1997.

1978: World Trophy Finals Appearance

In 1978, the New England Whalers competed for the World Trophy, losing to the Winnipeg Jets.

1979: Chuck Kaiton becomes radio announcer

In 1979, Chuck Kaiton became the radio play-by-play announcer for the team, a position he held until 2018, even during the team's time in Hartford.

1979: NHL Admission

In 1979, the Hartford Whalers, along with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets, were admitted to the NHL when the rival leagues merged.

1979: Joined the NHL as Hartford Whalers

In 1979, the franchise joined the NHL as part of the NHL–WHA merger, renaming themselves the Hartford Whalers.

1979: John Mckenzie's Playing Career

John McKenzie played from 1977–1979 and his number 19 was returned to circulation in 1997.

1981: Rick Ley's Playing Career

Rick Ley played from 1972–1981 and his number 2 was returned to circulation in 1997.

1986: Playoff Series Win

In 1986, the Hartford Whalers won their only playoff series against the Quebec Nordiques before losing in the second round to the Montreal Canadiens.

1986: Franchise Record Broken

In 2004-05, the Hurricanes finished the regular season with 112 points, shattering the previous franchise record of 93 points (in the NHL) set in 1986–87.

1987: Adams Division Title as the Whalers

In 1998-99, the Carolina Hurricanes won their newly formed Southeast Division, following the 1987 Adams Division title as the Whalers.

1992: "Reverse Retro" Homage

For the 2020–21 season, the Hurricanes wore a "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the template of the 1980s Whalers uniforms but with a grey base - grey being the only color used by both teams - as a nod to the 1992–1997 uniforms.

1992: Final Playoff Appearance as Whalers

In 1992, the Hartford Whalers made the playoffs for the final time, losing in the first round to the Montreal Canadiens.

1992: Playoff drought ends

In 1998-99, the Carolina Hurricanes had their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1992.

1993: Historical Trend

In 1993, a team swept their opponent in the first round and then lost four straight in the next series, a trend that continued in the 2019 playoffs.

1994: Jim Rutherford Joins the Whalers

In 1994, Jim Rutherford joined the Hartford Whalers as the general manager, a role he continued with the Carolina Hurricanes after the team's relocation.

1994: Purchase Assurances

In 1994, assurances were made that the Whalers would remain in Hartford at least through 1998.

1995: John Forslund becomes television play-by-play voice

In 1995, John Forslund became the play-by-play voice for the franchise's television broadcasts.

1995: New Jersey Devils Fail to Defend Title

In 1995-96, the New Jersey Devils became the third champion to not defend its title.

1996: Announcement of Team Move

In March 1997, owner Peter Karmanos announced that the Hartford Whalers would move after the 1996-97 season.

March 1997: Announcement of Team Move

In March 1997, owner Peter Karmanos announced that the Hartford Whalers would move after the 1996-97 season.

May 6, 1997: Announcement of Move to North Carolina

On May 6, 1997, Peter Karmanos announced that the Hartford Whalers would move to the Research Triangle area of North Carolina and would be renamed the Carolina Hurricanes.

1997: Team's First Season

After the team's first season in 1997, the team altered the color scheme to a slightly darker shade of red and kept the other colors.

1997: "Reverse Retro" Homage

1997: Continued Home at Hartford Civic Center

In 1997, the Hartford Whalers maintained their home at the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum.

1997: Relocation to North Carolina

In 1997, the team relocated to North Carolina and rebranded as the Carolina Hurricanes.

1997: Original Uniform Returns

In August 2022, the Carolina Hurricanes announced the return of the original 1997–2007 red uniform as an alternate to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the franchise in Carolina.

1997: Retired Numbers Reinstated

When the Whalers moved to North Carolina to begin the 1997–98 NHL season, they returned the previously retired #2 for Rick Ley and #19 for John McKenzie to circulation, while retaining Gordie Howe's #9 without public display.

1998: Whalers Commitment

In 1994, assurances were made that the Whalers would remain in Hartford at least through 1998.

1998: Improved Performance

In 1998-99, the Carolina Hurricanes had their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1992. Tragedy struck hours after the team's first-round loss to the Bruins, when defenseman Steve Chiasson was killed in a single-vehicle drunk-driving crash.

1999: Move to Raleigh Arena

In 1999, the Carolina Hurricanes moved to their newly completed arena in Raleigh, becoming the first major sports team to play in Raleigh.

2000: Gretzky's Number Retirement

At the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 was retired for all NHL teams.

2000: Uniform Modification

In 2000, black trim was added on the player's name on the Hurricanes' initial uniforms, which featured the primary logo and storm warning flags.

2000: Introduction of the Storm Squad

In 2000, with the move to the new arena, the Carolina Hurricanes introduced the "Storm Squad", the first cheerleaders for professional ice hockey in North America.

2001: Playoffs First Round Loss

In 2001, the Hurricanes lost in the first round of the playoffs, and in 2020, they lost in the first round against the Bruins, marking the first time since the 2001 playoffs that they lost in the first round.

2002: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance

In 2002, Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time, losing to the Detroit Red Wings.

2002: Playoff Run and "Miracle at Molson"

In the 2002 playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens, with a notable game in Montreal known as the "Miracle at Molson" where they came back to win in overtime.

2002: Playoff Momentum

In the 2002–03, Hurricanes looked poised to pick up where they left off in the 2002 playoffs.

2003: Increased attendance

Attendance increased from the 2003–04 season, averaging just under 15,600 per game, and the team made a profit for the first time since the move from Hartford.

2003: Drafting of Eric Staal

One of the positive results of the losing years was the team's drafting of Eric Staal in 2003.

2004: Kaiton Receives Foster Hewitt Memorial Award

In 2004, longtime franchise radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Kaiton received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, an honor granted by the Hockey Hall of Fame.

2004: NHL Lockout outcome

The outcome of the 2004–05 NHL lockout led to the shrinking of the payroll to $26 million.

2005: Hurricanes Tie Franchise Record

The 2008-09 Carolina Hurricanes matched a franchise record from the 2005-06 season by winning nine straight games.

2006: Praise for RBC Center

During the 2002 playoff series, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Don Cherry lauded the RBC Center as the loudest building in the NHL; praise that would be echoed in 2006.

2006: Hurricanes' Off-Season Losses

Following their Stanley Cup win, the Hurricanes lost four players to free agency in the off-season of 2006 and faced numerous injuries during the 2006-07 season.

2006: Stanley Cup Victory

In 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup over the Edmonton Oilers, marking the first major professional sports championship for the state of North Carolina.

2006: Karmanos Admits Greensboro "Mistake"

In a 2006 interview, Peter Karmanos admitted that playing in Greensboro was probably a mistake for the Carolina Hurricanes.

2006: 2006 Stanley Cup Champions

On May 9, 2012, the 2006 Stanley Cup Champions Hurricanes' game 7 victory was recognized as one of the NC Hall of Fame's "Great Moments" series.

2006: Last Division Championship

The 2020–21 season marked the Hurricanes' first division championship since winning the Southeast Division in 2006.

2007: Original Uniform Returns

In August 2022, the Carolina Hurricanes announced the return of the original 1997–2007 red uniform as an alternate to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the franchise in Carolina.

2007: Hurricanes Miss Playoffs

In the 2007 season, the Carolina Hurricanes missed the playoffs for two seasons running after a Stanley Cup triumph.

2007: Black Alternate Uniforms

Since 2007, the Hurricanes have worn black alternate uniforms for select games. Prior to 2022, black was primarily used as a trim color.

2007: Move to Reebok's Edge Template

Upon moving to Reebok's Edge template in 2007, the Hurricanes added piping on the shoulder yoke of their uniforms.

2008: First Black Alternate Uniform Unveiled

In 2008, the Hurricanes introduced their first black alternate uniform, featuring the flag logo and a recolored primary logo, with warning flag patterns on the tail.

2008: Paul Maurice Replaces Peter Laviolette as Coach

In early December 2008, Paul Maurice replaced Peter Laviolette as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

2009: Hurricanes Acquire Jussi Jokinen and Erik Cole

In 2009, the Carolina Hurricanes acquired Jussi Jokinen and Erik Cole, leading to a strong finish to the season and a playoff berth.

2009: Playoff Series Win

In 2009, the Hurricanes last won a playoff series, and in the 2019 playoffs, they won their first playoff series since 2009.

2009: Attendance Declines at PNC Arena

Starting in 2009, the attendance at PNC Arena, where the Carolina Hurricanes play, began to decline.

2009: Hurricanes' Dramatic 2009 Playoff Run

The Carolina Hurricanes had a dramatic playoff run in 2009, marked by close series and game-winning goals in the final moments, including a game 7 comeback against the New Jersey Devils known as the "Shock at the Rock". They ultimately lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Conference Finals.

2009: Hurricanes' Roster in 2009-10

The Hurricanes had a veteran-heavy, high-salary club that opened 2009-10.

2010: Rod Brind'Amour Retires and Jeff Skinner Drafted

During the 2010 off-season, Rod Brind'Amour retired to take a coaching job with the Carolina Hurricanes. Also, the Hurricanes selected Jeff Skinner in the 2010 NHL entry draft.

2010: Hurricanes Transition to Younger Team

The 2010-11 season was expected to be a transitional year for the Carolina Hurricanes, moving towards a younger and cheaper roster.

December 2011: Hurricanes Fire Paul Maurice, Hire Kirk Muller

In December 2011, the Carolina Hurricanes fired coach Paul Maurice and hired Kirk Muller as the new coach.

2011: Bruins Win Stanley Cup Despite Playoff Losses

In 2011, the Boston Bruins became one of the few NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup despite losing at least nine playoff games that year, mirroring a feat previously unachieved by the Hurricanes.

2011: Raleigh Hosts 2011 NHL All-Star Game

In January 2011, Raleigh hosted the NHL All-Star Game. Eric Staal captained a team that included Jeff Skinner and Cam Ward. At the end of the season, Skinner won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.

2011: Rod Brind'Amour Becomes Assistant Coach

Since 2011, Rod Brind'Amour had been serving with the Carolina Hurricanes as an assistant coach, before being named Head Coach in 2018.

February 20, 2012: Hurricanes Sign Tim Gleason to Extension

On February 20, 2012, the Carolina Hurricanes signed Tim Gleason to a four-year, $16 million contract extension.

May 9, 2012: 2006 Stanley Cup Victory Recognized by NC Hall of Fame

On May 9, 2012, the Carolina Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup victory was recognized as one of the NC Hall of Fame's "Great Moments" series.

March 25, 2013: Hurricanes Sign Alexander Semin

On March 25, 2013, the Carolina Hurricanes signed Alexander Semin to a five-year deal, worth $35 million.

2013: Hurricanes Realigned into Metropolitan Division

Before the 2013-14 season, the Carolina Hurricanes were realigned into the new Metropolitan Division.

2013: Carolina Hurricanes Sign Jiri Tlusty to a Two-Year Deal

During the 2013-14 season, the Carolina Hurricanes signed Jiri Tlusty to a two-year deal that would pay him $1.5 million for 2012–13 and $1.7 million for 2013–14

2013: Primary Uniforms Replaced

In 2013, the Hurricanes replaced their primary uniforms, omitting black and silver, and updated the letters to Univers Condensed font. Despite these changes, the team continued to wear the prior black alternate uniform.

2013: Previous White Uniform

The new white uniform released in 2019 replaced the one worn since 2013.

April 28, 2014: Ron Francis Replaces Jim Rutherford as General Manager

On April 28, 2014, Ron Francis was announced as the new general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, replacing Jim Rutherford.

June 19, 2014: Bill Peters Named Head Coach

On June 19, 2014, Bill Peters was named head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

2014: Hurricanes Near Bottom in League Attendance

In 2014, the Carolina Hurricanes finished second-to-last in average league attendance.

2014: Kings Win Stanley Cup Despite Playoff Losses

In 2014, the Los Angeles Kings became one of the few NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup despite losing at least nine playoff games that year, mirroring a feat previously unachieved by the Hurricanes.

2015: Hurricanes Finish Last in Metropolitan Division

During the 2014-15 season, the Carolina Hurricanes finished last in the Metropolitan Division.

2015: Relocation Rumors Surface for Hurricanes

In 2015, rumors began circulating that the Carolina Hurricanes might relocate to Las Vegas or Quebec City.

2016: Hurricanes Finish Sixth in Division

After trading Eric Staal, the Carolina Hurricanes finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division during the 2015-16 season.

July 13, 2017: Chuck Greenberg's Letter of Intent to Buy the Team

On July 13, 2017, Chuck Greenberg sent Karmanos a letter of intent to buy the Carolina Hurricanes for $500 million, though the deal ultimately fell through.

December 7, 2017: Thomas Dundon Agrees to Purchase Hurricanes

On December 7, 2017, Thomas Dundon signed an agreement to purchase the Carolina Hurricanes, ensuring the team would not be relocated.

2017: Penguins Win Stanley Cup Despite Playoff Losses

In 2017, the Pittsburgh Penguins became one of the few NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup despite losing at least nine playoff games that year, mirroring a feat previously unachieved by the Hurricanes.

2017: Move to Adidas' AdiZero Template

Upon moving to Adidas' AdiZero template in 2017, the Hurricanes made little changes to their white uniform, but their new red uniform brought back black striping and the warning flag pattern.

January 11, 2018: Thomas Dundon Finalizes Purchase of Hurricanes

On January 11, 2018, Thomas Dundon finalized the purchase of the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the majority owner.

March 8, 2018: Ron Francis Moved to President of Hockey Operations

On March 8, 2018, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that general manager Ron Francis had been moved to the role of president of hockey operations, though reports suggested a strained relationship with Thomas Dundon.

April 20, 2018: Bill Peters Resigns as Head Coach

On April 20, 2018, Bill Peters resigned from his position as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

April 30, 2018: Hurricanes Fire Ron Francis

On April 30, 2018, the Carolina Hurricanes officially fired Ron Francis from the organization, leaving vacancies in both the head coach and general manager positions.

May 8, 2018: Don Waddell Hired as President and General Manager

On May 8, 2018, Don Waddell was hired as team president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. At the same time, Rod Brind'Amour was named head coach.

2018: Chuck Kaiton departs as radio announcer; Simulcasting begins

In 2018, Chuck Kaiton concluded his tenure as the team's radio play-by-play announcer. Additionally, starting with the 2018–19 season, the Hurricanes began simulcasting audio from television broadcasts to a network of four stations, including WCMC-FM in Raleigh.

2018: Chuck Kaiton Leaves Franchise

In 2018, broadcaster Chuck Kaiton left the Carolina Hurricanes franchise.

2018: Heritage Uniforms Debut

In 2018, the Hurricanes began wearing green "Heritage" uniforms from the team's Hartford years, using the throwbacks twice against the Boston Bruins in its first season.

2018: New Black Alternate Uniform Unveiled

In 2018, the Hurricanes introduced a new black alternate uniform with an updated flag logo and the Flag of North Carolina, which has since become the team's primary home uniform during the playoffs.

2018: Capitals' Stanley Cup Win

In 2018, the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup, and in the 2019 playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated them in double overtime in game seven.

April 4, 2019: Hurricanes Clinch Playoff Spot

On April 4, 2019, the Carolina Hurricanes secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2009 with a 3–1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Their "Storm Surge" victory celebrations led to controversy, with Don Cherry calling them a "bunch of jerks", which the team embraced.

2019: Heritage Uniforms

For the 2019–20 season, the Hurricanes wore "Heritage" uniforms once at home against the Los Angeles Kings.

2019: Hurricanes Advance in Stanley Cup Playoffs

In 2019, the Hurricanes had a successful Stanley Cup playoff run, defeating the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders. They won their first playoff series since 2009 and reached the conference finals for the first time since 2009. However, they were ultimately swept by the Boston Bruins.

2019: New White Uniform Released

In 2019, the Hurricanes released a new white uniform featuring the "CANES" nickname diagonally, with the flag logo returning on the shoulders and the warning flag patterns also returning from the original set. This replaced the one worn since 2013.

2019: Blues Win Stanley Cup Despite Playoff Losses

In 2019, the St. Louis Blues became one of the few NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup despite losing at least nine playoff games that year, mirroring a feat previously unachieved by the Hurricanes.

February 22, 2020: David Ayres' Historic Win

On February 22, 2020, David Ayres, Hurricanes' emergency goaltender, made NHL history by becoming the first emergency goaltender to win a game, a 6–3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

August 3, 2020: Svechnikov Scores Hat Trick

On August 3, 2020, Andrei Svechnikov became the first Hurricanes/Whalers player to score a hat trick in the postseason, contributing to a 4–1 win over the New York Rangers, securing a second straight playoff appearance for the Hurricanes.

2020: "Reverse Retro" Uniform

For the 2020–21 season, concluding in 2020, the Hurricanes wore a "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the template of the 1980s Whalers uniforms but with a grey base as a nod to the 1992–1997 uniforms.

2020: Hurricanes Win Central Division

In the 2020–21 season, the Hurricanes won the Central Division and defenseman Jaccob Slavin won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Head coach Brind'Amour was awarded the Jack Adams Award.

2020: John Forslund leaves Hurricanes

Prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, John Forslund left his position as the television play-by-play voice of the Hurricanes.

June 30, 2021: Dundon Purchases Remaining Shares

On June 30, 2021, Tom Dundon completed his acquisition of the Carolina Hurricanes by purchasing all remaining minority shares in the team.

2021: John Forslund Leaves Franchise

In 2021, broadcaster John Forslund left the Carolina Hurricanes franchise.

2021: Hurricanes Roster Overhaul

In 2021, the Carolina Hurricanes underwent a significant roster overhaul, with several players departing and new players joining, including Tony DeAngelo and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

2021: Modern Red Uniform

In August 2022, the Hurricanes announced the return of the original 1997–2007 red uniform as an alternate to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the franchise in Carolina, replacing it with the modern red uniform they last wore in the 2021–22 season.

2021: Franchise title win

In the 2021–22 season, the Hurricanes won the Metropolitan Division, their first division win in franchise history. The regular season ended with 54 wins, the most in franchise history.

April 5, 2022: Alternate Pants Debut

On April 5, 2022, the Carolina Hurricanes wore their alternate black pants with the white road uniforms for the first time in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.

August 2022: Black Uniform Promotion and Throwback Announcement

In August 2022, the Hurricanes promoted their black uniform to the full time home uniform and announced the return of the original 1997–2007 red uniform as an alternate to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the franchise in Carolina. Later that year, the Hurricanes unveiled their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, this time using a red version of the "CANES" diagonal wordmark uniform.

December 23, 2022: Helmet and Pants Pairing

On December 23, 2022, the Carolina Hurricanes paired their alternate black helmets and pants with the primary red home uniform in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2022: Whalers Uniform Against Bruins

In 2022–23, the Hurricanes wore the Whalers "Heritage" uniform against the Bruins. During home games with the Whalers uniforms, the Brass Bonanza theme would be played after the horn.

2022: Hurricanes Win Metropolitan Division

In the 2021–22 season, concluding in 2022, the Hurricanes won the Metropolitan Division for the first time in franchise history and had the most wins in franchise history.

2022: Black Uniform Promotion

Until 2022, the Hurricanes minimized the use of black, opting for red helmets and pants. In August 2022, the Hurricanes officially promoted their black uniform to their full-time home uniform.

2023: Red Helmets with White Uniforms

By 2023, the Carolina Hurricanes were mainly wearing red helmets with their white road uniforms, only sporadically using the white road helmets.

2023: Stadium Series Uniforms

For the Hurricanes' appearances at the 2023 Stadium Series, they wore black uniforms with red accents and enlarged numbers, but without any white elements.

2023: Playoff Run and Division Win

In 2023, the Hurricanes won their division and advanced in the playoffs, defeating the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils before being swept by the Florida Panthers in the conference finals.

2023: Whalers Uniform Resurrection

In the 2023–24 season, the Hurricanes resurrected the white version of the Whalers uniform, wearing them against the Devils. They also wore Cooperalls during warmups as a tribute.

2024: Only Major Championship

As of 2024, the 2006 Stanley Cup win remains North Carolina's only major professional sports championship.

2024: Playoff Elimination

In the 2023–24 season, concluding in 2024, the Hurricanes finished second in the division and were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the second round of the playoffs.