Cardiac Cane
Fansided

Carolina Hurricanes: Trade History with the Chicago Blackhawks

ByRobert Leonard|
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 12: Carolina Hurricanes Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) centers the puck from being the net during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on November 12, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 12: Carolina Hurricanes Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) centers the puck from being the net during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on November 12, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
3 of 9
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 27: NHL Top 100 player Paul Coffey poses for a portrait at the Microsoft Theater as part of the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend on January 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 27: NHL Top 100 player Paul Coffey poses for a portrait at the Microsoft Theater as part of the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend on January 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Paul Coffey for Nelson Emerson

It was December of 1998 and Paul Coffey was a part of a horrible Blackhawk team that would go on to only get 70 points on their season. Carolina was leading the Southeast Division and looking for a veteran to add to the mix to help their playoff run.

And when you think of a veteran who has been there and done that, there are few better than Paul Coffey. Along with being a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, when the NHL released their list of the greatest 100 players of all time in 2017, Coffey made that list.

Coffey played the rest of the 98-99 season and playoffs averaging 19:41 of ice time. In the 99-2000 season, Coffey’s ice time went up to over 22 minutes a game. That Hurricane team, however, would not make the playoffs and he was sent to Boston where he finished his career.

Nelson Emerson was one of the Hartford leftovers that moved to Carolina with the team. Combined with his time in Connecticut and Greensboro, he played three and half seasons with the franchise. After being traded to Chicago, he played for Ottawa, Atlanta and the LA Kings before retiring in 2002.

Carolina easily wins this trade. Adding a player of Coffey’s name and stature – even if he was past his prime and for only about 100 games, added a lot of validity to this franchise. Throw in a playoff run and this trade still makes sense to this day.

Home/History