History of Carolina Hurricanes in Timeline
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the NHL's Metropolitan Division within the Eastern Conference. Their home games are played at PNC Arena.
1972: Whalers Dominate Early WHA
The New England Whalers win the WHA's Eastern Division for the first three seasons.
1973: Whalers Inaugural Avco World Trophy Champions
The Whalers win the Avco World Trophy, becoming the inaugural champions.
1974: Whalers Begin Relocation to Hartford
The Whalers begin the move to Hartford, Connecticut, playing the beginning of the 1974-75 season in West Springfield, Massachusetts while waiting for the completion of their new arena in Hartford.
1978: Whalers Lose Avco World Trophy Rematch
The Whalers compete for the Avco World Trophy against the Winnipeg Jets, a rematch of the 1973 finals. This time, the Whalers lose.
1979: Whalers Join the NHL
The New England Whalers join the NHL as part of the NHL–WHA merger, renaming themselves the Hartford Whalers.
1979: WHA and NHL Merge
The WHA and NHL merge, and the New England Whalers join the NHL. Under pressure from the Boston Bruins, they rename the team the Hartford Whalers.
1986: Whalers Win Only Playoff Series
The Hartford Whalers win their only playoff series in the NHL, defeating the Nordiques before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.
1987: Second Division Title as an NHL Team
In 1987, the Carolina Hurricanes, then known as the Hartford Whalers, won the Adams Division title, marking their second division title as an NHL team.
1992: Whalers' Last Playoff Appearance
The Whalers make the playoffs but are eliminated in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens. This is their last playoff appearance before relocating in 1997.
1992: Previous Winning Season and Playoff Appearance
This date marks the last time the Carolina Hurricanes had a winning season and reached the playoffs before their success in 1998.
1993: Last Time a Team Swept in First Round Lost Next Series in Four Straight
Prior to 2019, the last time an NHL team that swept their opponent in the first round of the playoffs lost their next series in four straight games was in 1993.
1994: Karmanos Purchases Team
Peter Karmanos purchases the Hartford Whalers, assuring they would remain in Hartford until at least 1998.
1996: End of 1996-97 Season
The Hartford Whalers were scheduled to relocate at the end of the 1996-97 season.
March 1997: Whalers to Relocate
Peter Karmanos announces the Whalers will relocate because of failed arena negotiations in Hartford.
May 6, 1997: Whalers to Move to North Carolina
Peter Karmanos announces the Hartford Whalers will move to Raleigh, North Carolina after the 1996-97 season.
1997: Hurricanes Tweak Color Scheme
After their first season, the Carolina Hurricanes slightly darkened their shade of red in their color scheme, while keeping the rest of the colors unchanged.
1997: Hurricanes Introduce Original Red Uniform
The Carolina Hurricanes introduced their original red uniform in 1997.
1997: Whalers Leave Hartford Civic Center
The Hartford Whalers move from the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum, their home from 1975 to 1997.
1997: Relocation to North Carolina
The Hartford Whalers relocate to North Carolina and are renamed the Carolina Hurricanes.
1998: First Winning Season and Playoff Appearance since 1992
The Carolina Hurricanes achieved their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1992, also winning the newly formed Southeast Division. This success followed adjustments to the arena capacity and improvements in the team's performance, led by players like Ron Francis, Keith Primeau, and Gary Roberts. Sadly, the season was marred by the tragic death of defenseman Steve Chiasson in a drunk-driving accident after the team's first-round playoff loss.
1998: Deadline for Remaining in Hartford
The Hartford Whalers were assured to remain in Hartford until at least 1998 when Peter Karmanos purchased the team in 1994.
1999: Move to Raleigh and New Arena
The Carolina Hurricanes moved into their newly completed arena in Raleigh, becoming the city's first major sports team. Despite a lackluster performance on the ice and missing the playoffs, the team saw significant improvement in attendance compared to their time in Greensboro.
2000: Hurricanes Add Black Trim to Uniforms
In 2000, the Carolina Hurricanes made a minor change to their uniforms, adding black trim to the players' names.
2000: Lackluster Season and Missed Playoffs
The Carolina Hurricanes had a disappointing season in 1999-2000, failing to make the playoffs. Although their attendance improved after moving to Raleigh, it still remained below the league average.
2000: Introduction of the "Storm Squad" Cheerleaders
With their move to the new arena in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes introduced the "Storm Squad," the first cheerleading squad in professional ice hockey in North America. This innovative addition aimed to enhance the fan experience and bring a new element to the game.
2001: Hurricanes' Last First Round Playoff Loss
The last time the Carolina Hurricanes lost in the first round of the playoffs before 2020 was in 2001.
2002: National Attention in the 2002 Playoffs
The Carolina Hurricanes gained national recognition during the 2002 playoffs. They secured a division win and exceeded expectations by defeating the defending Eastern Conference champions, the New Jersey Devils, in the first round. They then overcame a challenging series against the Montreal Canadiens, highlighted by a memorable game four comeback victory known as the "Miracle at Molson."
2002: Hurricanes' First Stanley Cup Final Appearance
The Carolina Hurricanes reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time, losing to the Detroit Red Wings.
2006: First Stanley Cup Finals Appearance and Fan Traditions
The Carolina Hurricanes reached their first Stanley Cup Finals after a hard-fought series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During this playoff run, Hurricanes fans gained recognition for their passionate support and unique traditions. These traditions included enthusiastic airport greetings for the team, large-scale tailgate parties before home games, and creating a famously loud atmosphere inside the RBC Center, which was widely praised as one of the loudest in the NHL.
2006: Relocation and Temporary Home in Greensboro
The Carolina Hurricanes relocated to Raleigh but faced a two-year delay in the completion of their new arena. As a temporary measure, they played home games in Greensboro, a decision that proved detrimental to their attendance and reputation. Fans in the Triangle area were hesitant to travel the distance, while fans in Greensboro were reluctant to support a team that displaced their beloved minor league franchise. Despite a competitive performance, the Hurricanes finished last in their division, hampered by the challenges of their temporary home.
2006: Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup
The Carolina Hurricanes win their first Stanley Cup Championship, defeating the Edmonton Oilers, and bringing North Carolina it's first major professional championship.
2006: Hurricanes Last Division Championship
The last time the Carolina Hurricanes won a division championship before 2020 was in 2006 when they won the Southeast Division.
2007: Hurricanes Retire Original Red Uniform
The Carolina Hurricanes retired their original red uniform in 2007.
2007: Hurricanes Introduce Black Alternate Uniforms
Though the Carolina Hurricanes primarily wore red uniforms, they introduced black alternate uniforms for select games starting in 2007.
2007: Hurricanes Update Uniforms with Reebok's Edge Template
When the Carolina Hurricanes switched to Reebok's Edge template in 2007, they added piping to the shoulder yoke of their uniforms.
2008: Hurricanes Unveil First Black Alternate Uniform
The Carolina Hurricanes revealed their first black alternate uniform in 2008, featuring the flag logo in front and the primary logo in dark gray on the shoulders, along with silver and black warning flag patterns and red and silver accents.
2009: Attendance at PNC Arena Begins to Decline
Attendance at PNC Arena in Raleigh began to decline after the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup win in 2006, reaching a low point in the 2014-15 season.
2009: Begining of Transition
The 2009-10 season marked the beginning of a transitional phase for the Carolina Hurricanes, shifting from a veteran-heavy, high-salary team to a younger and more affordable roster.
2009: Last Playoff Appearance
The Carolina Hurricanes last playoff appearance before 2019 was in 2009.
2009: Hurricanes' Last Playoff Series Win and Eastern Conference Finals Appearance
The Carolina Hurricanes last won a playoff series and appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009.
2009: Hurricanes' Playoff Run
The Carolina Hurricanes made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They defeated the New Jersey Devils in a dramatic seven-game series, featuring Jussi Jokinen's game-winning goal with 0.2 seconds left in regulation in Game 4, and Eric Staal's series-clinching goal with 1:20 left in Game 7. They then overcame the top-seeded Boston Bruins in another seven-game series, with Scott Walker scoring the series-winning goal in overtime of Game 7. The Hurricanes' run ended with a sweep at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
2010: Hurricanes' Transitional Season
The Carolina Hurricanes entered the 2010-11 season in a transitional phase, moving towards a younger, cheaper roster.
2010: Hurricanes' Struggles and Brind'Amour's Retirement
The Carolina Hurricanes struggled in the 2009-10 season, enduring a 14-game losing streak and missing the playoffs. Rod Brind'Amour was replaced as captain by Eric Staal mid-season. Brind'Amour retired after the season to take a coaching job with the team. The Hurricanes drafted Jeff Skinner with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
December 2011: Hurricanes Fire Maurice, Hire Muller
The Carolina Hurricanes fired head coach Paul Maurice and hired Kirk Muller as his replacement.
2011: Skinner's Emergence and All-Star Game
Jeff Skinner emerged as a star rookie for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010-11 season, leading all rookies in points and becoming the youngest All-Star in NHL history. Raleigh hosted the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, with Eric Staal captaining one of the teams. Despite Skinner's success, the Hurricanes missed the playoffs. Skinner was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.
2011: Rod Brind'Amour Becomes Assistant Coach
Rod Brind'Amour, a former captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, joined the team as an assistant coach.
February 20, 2012: Hurricanes Sign Gleason to Extension
The Carolina Hurricanes signed Tim Gleason to a four-year, $16 million contract extension.
May 9, 2012: Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup Victory Honored
The Carolina Hurricanes' Game 7 victory in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals was recognized as one of the NC Hall of Fame's "Great Moments."
March 25, 2013: Hurricanes Sign Semin
The Carolina Hurricanes signed Alexander Semin to a five-year, $35 million contract.
2013: Hurricanes Retire Previous White Uniform
The Carolina Hurricanes replaced their previous white uniform worn since 2013 with a new design in 2019.
2013: Hurricanes Replace Primary Uniforms with Minimalist Design
The Carolina Hurricanes replaced their primary uniforms in 2013 with a new set that minimized the use of black and silver, updated the lettering to Univers Condensed font, removed the flag logo and warning flag patterns, and reduced the size of the front logo.
2013: Hurricanes Realigned to Metropolitan Division
The Carolina Hurricanes were realigned into the new Metropolitan Division before the 2013-14 season.
2013: Gleason and Tlusty Traded
Tim Gleason and Jiri Tlusty were traded to the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets, respectively, in subsequent seasons.
April 28, 2014: Rutherford Replaced by Francis as General Manager
Jim Rutherford stepped down as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes and was replaced by Ron Francis.
June 19, 2014: Peters Named Head Coach
Bill Peters was appointed as the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.
2014: Hurricanes' Attendance Second-to-Last in the League
The Carolina Hurricanes' attendance struggled, finishing second-to-last in the NHL in both 2014 and 2015.
2015: Relocation Rumors Swirl
Rumors circulated that the Carolina Hurricanes might relocate to either Las Vegas or Quebec City due to declining attendance and owner Peter Karmanos' desire to sell the team. These rumors were denied by both the team and the league.
2015: Hurricanes' Playoff Drought Continues
The Carolina Hurricanes continued to miss the playoffs under Bill Peters, extending their drought to six consecutive seasons. Eric Staal was traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline.
2016: Hurricanes Show Slight Improvement
The Carolina Hurricanes showed slight improvement in the 2015-16 season, finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division, but still missed the playoffs.
July 13, 2017: Chuck Greenberg Expresses Interest in Purchasing the Team
Chuck Greenberg sent Peter Karmanos a letter of intent to buy the Carolina Hurricanes for $500 million, although the deal ultimately fell through.
December 7, 2017: Thomas Dundon Agrees to Purchase the Hurricanes
Thomas Dundon signed an agreement to purchase the Carolina Hurricanes, ensuring that the team would remain in Raleigh.
2017: Hurricanes Make Minor Uniform Adjustments with Adidas AdiZero Template
Upon switching to Adidas' AdiZero template in 2017, the Carolina Hurricanes kept their white uniform mostly the same, but reintroduced black striping and dark red warning flag patterns on their new red uniform.
January 11, 2018: Dundon Becomes Majority Owner
Thomas Dundon finalized the purchase of the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the majority owner with a 61% stake, while Peter Karmanos retained a minority interest.
March 8, 2018: Ron Francis Moved to President of Hockey Operations
General manager Ron Francis was moved to the role of president of hockey operations, but it was reported that this was likely a move in name only as Francis and Dundon did not agree on the direction of the team.
April 20, 2018: Bill Peters Resigns
Head coach Bill Peters resigned to pursue a similar position with the Calgary Flames.
April 30, 2018: Ron Francis Fired
Ron Francis was officially fired from the Carolina Hurricanes organization, leaving vacancies in both the head coach and general manager positions.
May 8, 2018: Don Waddell and Rod Brind'Amour Appointed
Don Waddell was hired as team president and general manager, while former team captain Rod Brind'Amour was named head coach, having previously served as an assistant coach since 2011.
2018: Chuck Kaiton Leaves
Chuck Kaiton, broadcaster for the Carolina Hurricanes, leaves the franchise.
2018: Hurricanes Introduce New Black Alternate Uniform with Updated Flag Logo
The Carolina Hurricanes unveiled a new black alternate uniform in 2018 featuring an updated hurricane warning flag logo and the Flag of North Carolina on the shoulder. This alternate uniform later became their primary home uniform during the playoffs.
2018: Washington Capitals Win the Stanley Cup
The Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
April 4, 2019: Hurricanes Clinch Playoff Berth
The Carolina Hurricanes clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2009 with a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.
2019: Hurricanes Release New White Uniform with "CANES" Diagonal Wordmark
At the request of owner Tom Dundon, the Carolina Hurricanes released a new white uniform in 2019 featuring a diagonal "CANES" nickname, the return of the flag logo on the shoulders, and elements from the original uniform set.
2019: Hurricanes Advance to Eastern Conference Finals
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders in the first two rounds of the playoffs, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2009. They were then swept by the Boston Bruins.
February 22, 2020: David Ayres Makes History
David Ayres became the first emergency goaltender in NHL history to win a game, playing for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ayres was the Zamboni driver for the Maple Leafs' minor league affiliate.
August 3, 2020: Andrei Svechnikov Scores First Playoff Hat Trick for Franchise
Andrei Svechnikov scored the first hat trick in the postseason in franchise history for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers.
2020: Hurricanes Win Central Division
The Carolina Hurricanes won the Central Division, their first division championship since 2006.
June 30, 2021: Dundon Acquires Full Ownership
Tom Dundon purchased all remaining minority shares in the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the sole owner of the team.
2021: John Forslund Leaves
John Forslund, broadcaster for the Carolina Hurricanes, leaves the franchise.
2021: Hurricanes' Historic 2021-2022 Season
The Carolina Hurricanes achieved a historic milestone in the 2021-2022 season by winning the Metropolitan Division for the first time in franchise history and for the first time in back-to-back years since relocation.
2021: Hurricanes Introduce Modern Red Uniform
The Carolina Hurricanes introduced their modern red uniform in 2021.
2021: Hurricanes Overhaul Roster in 2021 Off-Season
The Carolina Hurricanes significantly changed their roster during the 2021 off-season, trading Warren Foegele to Edmonton for Ethan Bear, signing Ian Cole and Brendan Smith to improve their defense, overhauling their goaltending by trading Alex Nedeljkovic and signing Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, and making controversial signings of Tony DeAngelo and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
April 5, 2022: Hurricanes Debut Alternate Pants with White Uniforms
The Carolina Hurricanes wore their alternate black pants with their white road uniforms for the first time on April 5, 2022, against the Buffalo Sabres.
August 2022: Hurricanes Officially Adopt Black as Primary Home Uniform, Reintroduce Retro Red Alternate
In August 2022, the Hurricanes officially made their black uniform their primary home uniform and brought back their original 1997-2007 red uniform as an alternate to commemorate their 25th anniversary. This retro uniform was worn for one season before being replaced with the modern red uniform from the 2021-2022 season. They also revealed their second "Reverse Retro" uniform with a red version of the diagonal "CANES" wordmark uniform.
December 23, 2022: Hurricanes Introduce Red Helmets with White Uniforms
On December 23, 2022, the Carolina Hurricanes debuted a new look, wearing red helmets with their white road uniforms for a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
2022: Hurricanes' 2022 Playoff Run
The Carolina Hurricanes had a successful regular season in 2022 with 54 wins, the most in franchise history, with Andersen and Sebastian Aho representing the team at the 2022 NHL All-Star game. They defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the New York Rangers in the second round.
2022: North Carolina's Only Championship
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup victory remains the only major championship in North Carolina as of 2022-2023.
2022: Hurricanes Officially Adopt Black Home Uniforms
While black has always been a core color for the Carolina Hurricanes, it was only used minimally until 2022 when they promoted their black uniforms to their full-time home uniforms.
2024: Current Status as the Only Major Sports Team in Raleigh
As of 2024, the Carolina Hurricanes remain the only major sports team in Raleigh, highlighting their unique position in the city's sporting landscape.
