I'm not sure if you've ever watched the DVD released after the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006. I have several times throughout my life. One quote always stood out to me. When talking about the preseason expectations for that team, Eric Staal says that one expert declared, "There are a lot of bad teams in the Southeast Division, but Carolina promises to be the worst."
The Southeast Division has always carried that reputation, and it was well deserved. From its inception in 1998 to the conference realignment in 2013, the division consisted of Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington, and Atlanta, who became Winnipeg and stayed before the realignment sent them to the Western Conference. More often than not, the division wasn't very good.
The division winner was often the worst of the three division champs, putting them in the tougher matchups. The Southeast saw marginal success throughout the years, with Tampa Bay and Carolina winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 and 2006, respectively. However, they also had the two or three worst teams in the conference almost every year. Splitting them up was probably the right decision.
I bring all of this up to highlight how well the old division mates have done in recent years. The Hurricanes kept a streak rolling on Friday night by eliminating the Montreal Canadiens and ensuring their spot in the Stanley Cup Final. It marks the seventh straight season that the Southeast Division will be represented.
The Florida teams did most of the work during this streak. Tampa Bay went to the Cup Finals three years in a row in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Florida followed with trips in the next three years in 2023, 2024, and 2025, with their first and last trips being at the Hurricanes' expense. This makes the 2026 Final the first since 2019 to not feature a team from Florida.
The Capitals ought not to be forgotten for their contribution. They went to the Final in 2018 and won the Stanley Cup. Including their run, the Southeast Division has been to the very end in eight of the last nine seasons. If the Canes had won in the conference finals in 2019 against Boston, the streak would be at nine, but it's better late than never.
I know that the times have changed, and they're no longer playing in the same division, but it's cool to see the legacy of the division being seen in a different light as they continue to be the best of the best in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes will try to make it six Stanley Cups in nine years for the Southeast. Not bad for a few traditionally smaller markets.
Add us as a preferred source on Google