Cardiac Cane
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Carolina Hurricanes: The day that Gave the Franchise a Face

By Jeb Bohn

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 10: Center Ron Francis #10 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during game four of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Entertainment Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 10, 2002. The Red Wings defeated the Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI)
RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 10: Center Ron Francis #10 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during game four of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Entertainment Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 10, 2002. The Red Wings defeated the Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI) /
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Ron Francis of the Carolina Hurricanes
Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images/NHLI) /

The on-ice impact

The Carolina Hurricanes enjoyed a 12 point jump in the standings in Francis’ first year, winning a Southeast Division title and securing a playoff berth.  While they lost a tough 6 game series in the opening round, the younger players on the team gained experience and the team began to make some noise.

Francis managed 52 points (21g, 31a), a total that represented a 35 point decrease from his final season in Pittsburgh.

The 1999-00 Hurricanes suffered a small setback, dropping to 3rd in their division and missing the postseason.  Francis, however, rebounded, putting up 73 points (23g, 50a) to lead the team.  The following season found the team returning to the playoffs, again losing out in a six-game opening-round series.

The veteran’s goal scoring (15) slowed a bit, though he matched his 50 assist output from the previous season.  He finished second on the team in scoring, trailing only O’Neill, who had put up a career-best 41 goal campaign.

That was all a warmup for what would be Francis’ biggest impact season with the Hurricanes.  In his second full season as team captain, Francis led the team with 77 points, notching 27 goals and—you guessed it—50 assists.

The team claimed their second division title in 4 seasons, earning a first-round matchup against the New Jersey Devils, the team that had dispatched the Hurricanes the year before.

This year would prove to be a different animal.  The Hurricanes disposed of the Devils in 6 games before tearing through the heart of Canadian hockey tradition.  Two more 6 game series saw Carolina best the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, earning an Eastern Conference Championship and a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The matchup against the Detroit Red Wings looked completely one-sided on paper.  While the Hurricanes had talent, Detroit boasted a lineup featuring Steve Yzerman, Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brendan Shanahan, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, and Dominik Hasek.

The series was much closer than anticipated and Francis sent a shockwave through the NHL when he scored the overtime winner in Game One:

Detroit went on to win the Cup in five games, leaving the Hurricanes to regroup.  While losing in the Cup Final is heartbreaking, Carolina had done a lot of damage and drawn a lot of attention on the national stage.  This run also solidified the raucous playoff crowds that populated the then Entertainment and Sports Arena.

The Hurricanes would, unfortunately, go on to miss the playoffs the next 2 seasons, depriving fans of the playoff action that had enthralled them during that magical postseason run.  On March 9, 2004, Francis was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 4th round pick, giving the veteran one last shot at another Stanley Cup.

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