At some point in your life, I guarantee you've felt underappreciated. Whether it's at work, from your family, or the public as a whole, it's something that has plagued us all at one point or another. The same is especially true for hockey players. They put their bodies on the line every night trying to win the Stanley Cup. Sometimes those efforts are all for naught.
These players provided us with moments and seasons that have largely fallen to the wayside. Some are more remembered than others, but none are given the proper respect they deserve, either within the fan base or from the hockey community at large. It's time they receive their flowers and the recognition for what they've done for this organization.
Sami Kapanen (1997-98)
In the grand scheme of the organization, I firmly believe that Sami Kapanen is one of the most underappreciated players to ever play for the Canes. The 13-year veteran was a two-time All-Star and a two-time Fastest Skater at the event. He turned into a consistent 20-goal threat during his eight seasons with the organization.
This was not one of his All-Star campaigns, but it was one of his best. During the inaugural season in Greensboro, Kapanen was one of the team's standouts. He posted an identical stat line as Keith Primeau, tying the team lead in goals (26), assists (37), and points (63). Kapanen was also the first to record a hat trick as a Hurricane, doing so twice against Edmonton during the season.
While the Hurricanes didn't make the playoffs, finishing last in the Northeast Division by a healthy margin, Kapanen was one of the lone bright spots. He didn't receive any award recognition for his play, though he finished 8th for the Lady Byng, which was won that season by Ron Francis as a Penguin.
Arturs Irbe (1998-99)
Goalie records before the advent of the shootout following the 2004-05 lockout will always be deceptive. With ties factoring into things, it often sells short the efforts of the men between the pipes. Arturs Irbe's 27-20-12 record might leap off the page, but his .923 save percentage and 2.22 GAA definitely should.
Still playing in the friendly confines of the Greensboro Coliseum, the Hurricanes willed their way to the division crown in the newly-formed Southeast Division in 1998-99. While their offense was below league average, their defense was stellar, anchored by Irbe. Playing 62 games, Irbe ranked in the Top 10 in wins (T10th), saves (6th). save percentage (4th), GAA (8th), and shutouts (T4th).
Though the Canes fell in their first postseason series to Boston, it was hardly due to lack of good goaltending. Vezina consideration is rare for Hurricanes netminders, having occurred just six times among four goalies in almost 30 years. Irbe was the first, finishing 8th in Vezina Trophy voting. It was the best finish for a Hurricanes goalie until Cam Ward finished 7th in 2009.
Jiri Tlusty (2012-13)
Truthfully, Jiri Tlusty was the first name I thought of when making this list. I'd bet that only a few younger and newer fans recognize this name. Maybe even some of the longtime diehards haven't thought about him in a long time. However, Tlusty owns a distinction in team history that hasn't been replicated over the last dozen years.
Not since Tlusty scored 23 goals during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season has a Carolina Hurricane finished in the Top 5 of the Rocket race. He was in good company at the top of the list, tying Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, while trailing only Jeff Carter, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, and Rocket recipient Alex Ovechkin.
In just 48 games, Tlusty set career highs that he wouldn't touch during a full season. He was third on the team in scoring with 38 points, marking one of the most bizarre single seasons in recent memory. The team didn't perform well, finishing third in the Southeast and missing the playoffs in Kirk Muller's first season behind the bench.
Anton Khudobin & Justin Peters (2013-14)
If you've been watching Hurricanes hockey over the last several years, you understand the importance of having three good goaltenders, in case someone gets hurt. During the 2013-14 season, it was a revolving door in the net. Some things will never change with the Carolina Hurricanes, no matter how much time passes.
It started when Anton Khudobin went down in October with an ankle injury, bringing Justin Peters in to back up Cam Ward, who got off to a very slow start. Through the end of November, Ward was just 6-7-5 with a .895 save percentage. Peters' record wasn't much better at 4-7-1, but the team combined for just 19 goals in his 12 starts.
By the time Khudobin was ready to return with the turning of the calendar, Ward went down. Khudobin hit the ground running, starting all 14 games for the team in January. Going 10-4-0 over the next 31 days, Khudobin tied the franchise record for wins in a month and was named the league's first star for January.
Ward made his return in late February and played better, despite a sub .500 record. All three goalies made at least 20 starts that season. Khudobin led the way with 34, setting the franchise record with a .926 save percentage. He also has the fifth-lowest GAA in a season at 2.30. The Canes missed the playoffs again, leading to Kirk Muller's dismissal after two seasons.
Teuvo Teravainen (2018-19)
In the same vein as Sami Kapanen, I don't think Teuvo Teravainen gets the proper amount of love for what he did as a Carolina Hurricane. Traded to Carolina in 2016, Teravainen and Sebastian Aho had a chemistry that was magical for years, becoming the organization's most prolific scoring duo in 2022. Coinciding with the team's return to the playoffs, Teravainen's production boomed in 2018-19.
Finishing second on the team to Aho with 77 points, Teravainen fell one assist short of tying his then-first-year head coach, Rod Brind'Amour, for the team record. Instead, he settled for a tie in second with 55. They weren't cheap either, serving as the primary assister on 36 of the 55 goals he helped create. Aho benefited more than anyone, scoring 16 of his team-high 30 goals with Teravainen's help.
His play carried into the playoffs, leading the team with seven goals and finishing third with ten points. Playing in six of the team's last seven postseasons, Teravainen is among the franchise's best in the playoffs. In 555 games as a Hurricane, Teravainen sits 8th in Whalers/Hurricanes history in points, cementing himself as one of the best Hurricanes of this era.
Frederik Andersen (2021-22)
I mentioned with Arturs Irbe that only four goalies in team history have received Vezina votes. Irbe did it twice (1999, 2001). Martin Gerber finished 8th in 2006. Cam Ward also received votes twice, finishing 7th in 2009 and 2011. The final man is Frederik Andersen during his first season with the Hurricanes.
Signing in Raleigh after five seasons in Toronto, Andersen needed a fresh start. The same could be said for the Canes, who moved on from Petr Mrazek, James Reimer, and Alex Nedeljkovic during the offseason. Andersen meshed well with the Canes, turning in one of the best goaltending seasons a Hurricane has ever put together.
Andersen went 35-14-3 in 52 appearances. His 35 wins were 7th in the league. His .922 save percentage was 3rd, and the 4th-best in franchise history. His 2.17 GAA was 2nd and is the 2nd-best in franchise history. He and Antti Raanta combined to allow the fewest goals in the league, giving the organization its first Jennings Trophy winners.
With his incredible season, Andersen finished 4th in Vezina voting, the best finish for a Carolina goalie in franchise history. He might've finished higher if not for an April injury. During a trip to Colorado, Andersen left a 7-4 loss in the third period with a knee injury that kept him out through the postseason. I firmly believe he should've been a finalist over Juuse Saros, though a win was unlikely.