All Time Top American Players in Carolina Hurricanes History

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RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 13: Brett Hedican, 2005-2006 Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Champion team member and analyst for the San Jose Sharks, raises the Stanley Cup at the pregame 10th Anniversary Celebration as announcer John Forslund looks on prior to an NHL game against the New York Islanders at PNC Arena on February 13, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Bret Hedican

Stanley Cup Champion. Need we say more? Bret Hedican of St.Paul Minnesota, Joined the Carolina Hurricanes in the 11th season of his career after being traded from the Florida Panthers. Immediately he made his mark on the team taking them to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 where they lost to the Red Wings.

It’s not about how you fall, it’s about how you get up. Four years after the loss to the Red Wings, the Carolina Hurricanes found themselves in another Stanley Cup final. This time Bret Hedican didn’t allow the Stanley Cup to fall from their grasp. Paired with other great Carolina Hurricanes players, he didn’t stop pushing until he got to hoist the 35 Lbs of Silver.

Hedican played for two more years with the Hurricanes before signing a one year contract with the ducks for the 08-09 season. Perhaps if that contract were signed with the Hurricanes their run wouldn’t have ended with a sweep in the ECF at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins? We will never know.

These days Bret Hedican is doing color commentary for the San Jose Sharks and doing analytics for NHL on NBCSN. But that hasn’t stopped him from remembering his roots as one of the greatest American blueline defensemen for the Carolina Hurricanes.

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