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All Time Top American Players in Carolina Hurricanes History

By Omar Abdelgawad

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 10: A member of the Carolina Hurricanes is pictured on the bench with a US flag decal on his helment to commemorate Veterans Day during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks on November 10, 2016 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 10: A member of the Carolina Hurricanes is pictured on the bench with a US flag decal on his helment to commemorate Veterans Day during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks on November 10, 2016 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 12: Tim Gleason #6 of the Carolina Hurricanes bats down an errant puck during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks during at PNC Arena on February 12, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 12: Tim Gleason #6 of the Carolina Hurricanes bats down an errant puck during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks during at PNC Arena on February 12, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Tim Gleason

Of all the players on this list, Tim Gleason of Clawson, Michigan, has probably worn the Carolina Hurricanes jersey the longest. Joining the team after their 2006 Stanley Cup win, he stayed a Hurricane and a pivotal member of the defensive core for nine years. During that time he got traded twice from the Hurricanes.

That’s right. After being traded to Toronto during the 2013-2014 season that saw him not do much to help the Maple Leafs in their bid for a playoff spot that fell flat, the Maple Leafs bought him out. What did this American blueliner do after a Canadian team told him to kick rocks? He came back to the Carolina Hurricanes on a one year team friendly deal.

Gleason isn’t on this list for his prowess on the ice. Not that he wasn’t a great player. Early in his Carolina Hurricanes career, he posted great defensive numbers and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009. But it is his loyalty to Carolina that gets him on this list of great American Hurricanes.

Unfortunately that loyalty wasn’t rewarded. The incredible combo that was GM Ron Francis and HC Bill Peters sent Tim Gleason to the Washington Capitals for Jack Hillen and a fourth rounder. Both men would retire the very next season.

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