Cardiac Cane
Fansided

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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RALEIGH, NC – JUNE 19: Rod Brind’Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes hoists the Stanley Cup after the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 19, 2006 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes defeated the Oilers 3-1 to win the series 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – JUNE 19: Rod Brind’Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes hoists the Stanley Cup after the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 19, 2006 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes defeated the Oilers 3-1 to win the series 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Enter The Captain

Thank you, Keith Primeau.  After serving as captain of the Carolina Hurricanes for the 98-99 season, Primeau engaged in a holdout that lasted for over half of the 99-00 season.  Many Hurricanes fans were bitter, feeling betrayed by the captain and leading scorer.

Then came January 23, 2000:

In Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes got a warrior.  Yes, that’s a cliché and I don’t care because that’s exactly what he was.  During his time with the Hurricanes, Brind’Amour put up 473 points in 694 regular-season games and added 38 points in 72 playoff games.

He wore an ‘A’ on his sweater for four seasons before being named captain for the 05-06 season, a title that he held until 09-10 when he ceded it to Eric Staal and resumed a role as an alternate.  Despite the change, there was no question who the team leader was, and that’s no slight towards Staal.

Brind’Amour will always be remembered for leading the Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup and the joy he exuded when he hoisted the trophy, foregoing the ceremonial pose with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.  Rather than an intended snub, this was the product of overwhelming emotion.

He rounded out his career by winning the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in both 2006 and 2007.  After retiring, Brind’Amour joined the Hurricanes coaching staff and served for seven years before being named Head Coach on May 8th, 2018.

While Primeau drew the ire of many with his holdout, he was a solid contributor to the Flyers, posting 213 points in 312 games.  Sadly, post-concussion syndrome led to Primeau announcing his retirement from the NHL on September 14th, 2006.

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