Final Thoughts
Of course, this is nothing but guessing, and the Hurricanes would've needed to pay them all what they would eventually be worth, but there could've been a reality where Jerome Iginla, Ruslan Salei, and Marian Hossa were Hurricanes in consecutive draft classes. That alternate reality is really just a pipe dream, though it's fun to speculate what could've been.
Glen Wesley's longevity alone was incredible. He got to see the end of one organization and the rise of another, all the way to the top of the mountain. It took him a long time to finally hoist the Stanley Cup, but he did it as a Carolina Hurricane. He's a legend in every sense, and the team should be honored to have him amongst their all-time greats.
Even if the Whalers had drafted incredible players with the picks they traded away, there's no guarantee that any would've succeeded as a Whaler or a Hurricane. They could've easily been traded to bolster the team in other ways, or never become the successes they were. Drafting the right fit is a tough task. Sometimes, taking the sure thing is the safer bet.