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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 Underappreciated Former Players

By Alex Ohari

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 12: Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Justin Faulk (27) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators on February 12, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 12: Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Justin Faulk (27) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators on February 12, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO,CANADA – FEBRUARY 4: Joni Pitkanen #25 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates after aloose puck in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 4, 2013 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Hurricanes defeated the Leafs 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,CANADA – FEBRUARY 4: Joni Pitkanen #25 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates after aloose puck in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 4, 2013 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Hurricanes defeated the Leafs 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Joni Pitkanen

If you want a guy who really divides fan opinion – look no further than Joni Pitkanen. I’ve talked to fans that have said he was the Hurricanes best defenseman when he was a member of the team, and I’ve talked to others who’ve said he was the worst. Honestly, to me, he was a dream and a nightmare.

Pitkanen, who came to the team via an Erik Cole trade to Edmonton in July 2008, was a polarizing player. He was specifically an offensive specialist, and his defensive game was a point of frustration to fans (especially considering he was a defenseman).

Pitkanen should always be remembered for his contributions in the 2009 Cup run. In Game 4 against New Jersey, he set up the Jussi Jokinen game-winner with just .2 seconds left in the game, and then once again set up Jussi Jokinen‘s game-tying goal with a minute left in Game 7 of that series, which Carolina (obviously) went on to win.

He was a really great puck-mover, and a powerplay factor for the team in the parts of 5 seasons he spent as a Hurricane. But on the flip side, his lack of physicality, propensity to get caught pinching and taking lazy penalties drew the ire of some fans.

Unfortunately, Pitkanen suffered a brutal career-ending injury in April of 2013, after a devastating crash into the boards (which I still have graphic image of in my head to this day). That would be the last of Pitkanen’s 535 games in the NHL – of which 256 he spent with the Hurricanes.

In hindsight, Pitkanen was a great offensive presence for the Canes in his tenure, and was a key factor in a couple of extremely exciting moments for a franchise that’s really lacked them recently. I think that makes him worthy of having his deficiencies overlooked, and should hold a warmer place in Canes history.

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