Carolina Hurricanes: An Intense Rivalry Brewing with the Capitals

RALEIGH, NC - SEPTEMBER 29: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Julien Gauthier (44) checks Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) in front of his bench during an NHL Preseason game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - SEPTEMBER 29: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Julien Gauthier (44) checks Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) in front of his bench during an NHL Preseason game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 29: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Julien Gauthier (44) checks Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) in front of his bench during an NHL Preseason game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 29: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Julien Gauthier (44) checks Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) in front of his bench during an NHL Preseason game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes seem to have found themselves the perfect rival, the Washington Capitals.

After a countless number of years of being over looked, the Carolina Hurricanes managed to put themselves and the city of Raleigh back on the hockey map this past season. In fact, ever since Tom Dundon took over as majority owner back in January 2018, the team has done nothing but make waves around the league.

Before this season, it seemed that for years the Hurricanes have lacked a true rival, someone to give the players just a little extra motivation whenever the two teams would meet. Luckily, with the way the last couple of months have transpired for the organization, it seems as if that is no longer the case. It is safe to say that the Carolina Hurricanes have finally found themselves a true rival.

And no it’s not the Canadiens.

Now I know what you’re thinking, how is it not the Canadiens especially after last night and the offseason we just had?

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The answer is quite simple, even though the two teams have had their fair share of exchanges over the summer, with the well documented Sebastian Aho offer sheet, free agent signings of Jake Gardiner and Ryan Dzingel, and rumored interest by the Hurricanes in every player Montreal inquired about via trades, most of the “tension” appears to be occurring off ice.

It’s also no secret thats there is a whole lot of back and forth going on between the two fan bases online, I am just not sure it exists between the players themselves just yet.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not by any means saying that they aren’t becoming a rival, I am more so insinuating that they aren’t the biggest rival the Hurricanes have made this offseason, that title belongs to the Washington Capitals.

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