2008 Carolina Hurricanes

Even as we say “Congratulations” to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who beat the Hurricanes 4 games to 0 to secure the Eastern Conference Championship and advance to the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, we want to say a big “Thank you” to the Carolina Hurricanes for the fantastic season they had, finishing 2nd in the demanding Southeast Division!

Though the Carolina Hurricanes ended the 2007-08 season in second place in the Southeast Division, it wasn’t quite enough to secure an NHL playoff berth. Last season the offense was crippled by forwards Ray Whitney, Matt Cullen, Justin Williams and Rod Brind'Amour missing quite a few games due to injury, so if they can stay healthy in the 2008-09 season, the ‘Canes chances are good for a return to the playoffs. General Manager Jim Rutherford decided to strengthen the defense by trading Erik Cole for Joni Pitkanen and signing Anton Babchuk from the Russian Super League and Josef Melichar from the Swedish Elite League. With the ‘Canes having the dubious distinction of being only one of two clubs in all of NHL history to fail to make the playoffs two years in a row following a Stanley Cup win, they’re starting the 2008-09 season determined to turn things around. Though the off-season moves have fortified the team, their fierce resolve may be the difference between a successful or disappointing season. Throngs of fans in the stands of RBC Center - Raleigh Arena can only help strengthen that determination, so get your Carolina Hurricanes tickets today and help cheer your team on to victory!

The Hurricanes play at the RBC Center - Raleigh Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, and wear uniforms of red, black, and white. The team name and logo are taken from the high-velocity wind storms that often strike North Carolina's Atlantic seaboard in late fall and winter.

Before becoming the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997, the franchise played as the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1978, and as the Hartford Whalers in the NHL from 1979 to 1997.

As members of the Eastern Division of the WHA during the 1970s, the Whalers earned three division titles and one league championship. In 1977, 49-year-old Gordie Howe, who had already been named to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and his sons Mark and Marty joined the team. Gordie and Mark produced top scoring efforts that year, powering New England to a second trip to the WHA Finals. The Whalers lost the series to the Jets, whose offense was led by left wing Bobby Hull.

In 1979 the Whalers joined the NHL after the WHA and NHL merged. That same year the team changed its name to the Hartford Whalers. Gordie Howe played one more year with the team before retiring in 1980 at age 52.

In the 1980s and 1990s Hartford qualified for the NHL playoffs for seven consecutive seasons with lineups starring center Ron Francis and goalie Mike Liut. The team owners moved the franchise to North Carolina before the 1997-98 season and renamed the team the Hurricanes. In 2001-02, the Hurricanes went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Detroit Red Wings, but they made up for it in the 2005-06 season, beating the Edmonton Oilers to take home the Stanley Cup.