The Carolina Hurricanes is a professional hockey team that play in the Southeast division of the NHL's Eastern Conference. Although the "Carolina Hurricanes came into the league in 1997, the franchise was established in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, (WHA).

With the demise of the WHA, the Whalers joined the NHL in 1979, the team joined the NHL and became the Hartford Whalers. The team left Connecticut in 1997 and relocated to North Carolina due to low attendance and financial problems. A new stadium would be built in Raleigh, NC for the team.

The new stadium wasn't completed until 1999 and for the first two years the 'Canes had to play their home game in Greensboro, NC. which was approximately 80 miles away. This certainly didn't help with the attendance problems they were having in N.C. People were reluctant to make the hour and a half drive to watch a brand new team. The team finished in last place in the division their inaugural year.

By the 1998-99 season, the team had become acclimated and made it into the playoffs against veteran team, the Boston Bruins. The Hurricanes lost in the quarterfinals in 5 games. As if the loss of the series wasn't bad enough, the Hurricanes lost their teammate, Defenseman Steve Chiasson who was killed that night in a car crash.

The year of the grand opening of the new stadium, the RBC Center, the Carolina Hurricanes fell 1 point short of making the playoffs. The 'Canes made it to the playoffs the next two years. They lost in the quarterfinals in 2000-01 to the number 1 seed, New Jersey Devils in 6 games.

The 2001-02 season, the 'Canes went to the Stanley Cup Championship. The team went against the Detroit Red Wings and lost in 5 games. They won the first game, then lost 4 in a row.

The following season, 2002-03 the Hurricane's recorded their worst season. They finished the year with a pathetic 22-43-11-6 record earning them last place in the NHL. They missed the playoffs again in 2003-04. The NHL lockout canceled the entire 2004-05 season.

Returning to NHL Hockey in 2005-06, the Canes were ready and went on to win the Stanley Cup against the Edmonton Oilers in a 7 game series. This was the year they added Rookie Goaltender, Cam Ward to the roster.

After two straight years of missing the playoffs, the Hurricanes came out of their slump in the 2008-09 season. Looking like they were heading down the same losing road again the 'Canes fired coach Coach Peter Laviolette and replaced with with Paul Maurice. They finished the regular season as 6th seed. They lost in the Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Pittsburgh Penguins after defeating the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins. They were swept by Pittsburgh 4 games to 0. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/carolina/hurricanes.html<ref>

The franchise was originally founded as the New England Whalers in 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts as part of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers won the championship their first season, earning the Avco World Trophy. The Whalers continued in the WHA until the league folded in 1979.

In 1977, the Whalers signed the Howe family, Gordie Howe and his two sons, Mark and Marty. (Eventually Gordie Howe officially retired in 1980 from the Hartfield Whalers, but took on front office responsibilities. The Whalers retired his number, 9, in 1981.http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=45638

Following the WHA collapse, the Whalers were absorbed into the NHL as the Hartford Whalers. Despite the talent of current Hall of Famers Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull being on the team, the Whalers were less than successful in Hartford, making the playoffs only eight of the next 18 seasons. Peter Karmanos purchased the team in 1994, originally claiming to keep the team in Hartford for the following four seasons. After lacking ticket sales and poor seasons statistically, Karmanos was unable to come to terms for a new stadium and was forced to move the team.

The Hurricanes ended he 2009-10 season ended watching post season play. The Hurricanes finished the year with 35 wins, 37 losses and 10 overtime losses for 80 total points. The Hurricanes had a 14 game losing streak during October and November that really put them into a hole. They finished 3rd in the Southeast division, but did not qualify for the playoffs.

The Hurricanes have extended the contracts for Team Captain, Eric Staal and goalie, Cam Ward. But lacking post season revenue, the team is juggling numbers to get more bang for their buck. The Hurricanes have set their sights on having a young team that will develop into greatness.

Cam Ward isn't going anywhere, but the team debated on keeping Manny Legace as back-up goalie or going with the younger, less experienced, Justin Peters. On June 11, 2010, Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford announced that Peters would move up into the position. Legace's one-year contract with the Hurricanes, signed in Nov. 2009, gave him a salary of $500,000 if he plays in the NHL level and $105,000 for AHL level play.http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?playerId=531

The 2010 NHL draft will be held on June 25 and 26. Going into the draft, the Hurricanes have wheeled and dealed to pick up draft choices. They have 11 picks in the 7 rounds. The Hurricanes have been tight-lipped about their preferences in the draft, but have expressed a lot of interest and hopes for Oskar Osala, another goalie, Justin Pogge, and Cedric LaLonde-McNicoll.

• 2005-06 - Stanley Cup
• 2005-06 - Cam Ward - Conn Smythe Trophy
• 2005-06, 2006-07j - Rod Brind'Amour - Frank J. Selke Trophy
• 2001-02 - Ron Francis - King Clancy Memorial Trophy
• 2001-02 - Ron Francis - Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
• 2001-02, 2005-06 - Prince of Wales Trophy
• 1997-98 - Peter Karmanos - Lester Patrick Trophy