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Carolina Hurricanes: Best Trades of the First Ten Years

By Jeb Bohn

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 15: Erik Cole #26 of the Carolina Hurricanes watches the action against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on March 15, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 15: Erik Cole #26 of the Carolina Hurricanes watches the action against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on March 15, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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11 Oct 1999: Gary Roberts #10 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on from the bench during a game against the Calgary Flames at the Canadian Airlines Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hurricanes and the Flames tied at 3-3 .
11 Oct 1999: Gary Roberts #10 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on from the bench during a game against the Calgary Flames at the Canadian Airlines Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hurricanes and the Flames tied at 3-3 . /

Dual Reclamations

As the summer of 1997 wound down, Rutherford sought to stabilize the goaltending situation and add some grit and offense.  On August 25th, he addressed both needs with one trade.

At the time of the trade, Gary Roberts had spent a decade in Calgary, amassing 257 goals and 248 assists.  A power forward, Roberts’ physical style led to nerve damage in his neck, resulting in Roberts playing in only 43 games total between 1994 to 1996 before announcing his retirement in June of 1996.

After a chiropractor was able to improve his condition, a determined Roberts set his sights on a return to the NHL.  He recorded 57 goals and 87 assists in 207 games (0.7 PPG) with the Hurricanes, serving as an alternate captain in the 1999-2000 season.  He went on to make stops in Toronto, Florida, Pittsburgh, and Tampa Bay before announcing his retirement in March of 2009.

Taken nine spots ahead of Martin Brodeur in the 1990 NHL draft, Trevor Kidd was pegged as the goalie of the future for the Calgary Flames.  While Kidd wasn’t bad in Calgary, the Flames opted to go with the tandem of Rick Tabaracci and Dwayne Roloson and betting on the potential of young prospect Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

In two season with the Hurricanes, Kidd appeared in 72 games, posting a record of 28-31-9 with a goals-against-average of 2.34 and a save percentage of .916.  His play slipped in 98-99 and he was subsequently taken by the Atlanta Thrashers in the Expansion Draft before being flipped to the Florida Panthers.

Roberts’ time with the Hurricanes easily outpaced Cassels’ stint in Calgary, giving Carolina the edge there.  While Kidd wasn’t spectacular, he was serviceable for one season, while Giguere fizzled in Calgary before blossoming with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

While the Hurricanes traded away the better goalie, Giguere’s early indications weren’t great and this trade addressed their immediate needs.

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