Any Carolina Hurricanes goaltending discussion is usually dominated by familiar names. While that’s fun, I’m going to take you on a deep-dive of keepers who have donned the eye over the years.
Before the dust had settled on the move from Hartford, Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford pulled the trigger on a notable trade. Coming in for the debut season in Greensboro was rugged winger Gary Roberts and goaltender Trevor Kidd; heading out was center Andrew Cassels and goalie prospect (and future Conn Smythe winner) Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Kidd, a 1990 1st round pick of the Calgary Flames (taken nine spots ahead of Martin Brodeur. Ouch.) and Sean Burke, who had moved south with the Whalers, were the goaltending tandem heading into the 1997-98 season. By season’s end, Burke would be gone (more on that later), and the Hurricanes found themselves in what would become a familiar position of playing musical goalies.
Through the Hurricanes’ two-plus decades in North Carolina, there have been arguably four netminders who are closely tied to the success that the team has experienced: Arturs Irbe, Kevin Weekes, Martin Gerber, and Cam Ward. The 2018-2019 season added the names Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney to that lore.
But this list isn’t about those guys. Instead, we’re going to take a look at a list of goalies who you may have forgotten ever played for the sightless eye. Some were on the downside of solid careers when they joined the Hurricanes, others were reclamation projects that failed to pan out. Rounding things out are the journeymen, those who plied their craft in numerous cities and various leagues.
Without further ado: