Assembling The Best All-Time Roster For The Whalers/Hurricanes Franchise: Who Makes The Cut?

In a few short months GM's for the countries participating in the NHL 4 Nations Faceoff will be putting together the roster for their respective nations to create the best team possible.

With NHL training camps still about 5 weeks away and news around the league still at a slow point, we figured what better time to create the best team possible using players that have played for the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise. To make the exercise more challenging and realistic we chose a roster with 4 left-wings, 4 centers, 4 right-wings, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies.

It was tough and there were definitely some hard decisions to make with some good players left off. But without further ado, here is the roster of the best all-time Whalers/Hurricanes players.

Centers

Ron Francis- No surprise that Ron Francis leads us off. Francis is the all-time leader in goals, assists and points for the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise. Francis compiled 382 goals, 793 assists and 1,175 points in 1,186 games played for the franchise. Francis also served as Whalers captain during the 1985-1986 season and again during the 1990-1991 season, prior to be being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in March of 1991. Francis would return to the franchise with the Hurricanes in 1998-1999 before once again serving as captain from 1999-2001 and again during the 2003-2004 season before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he ultimately ended his career. Ron Francis is only 1 of 4 Whalers/Hurricanes players to score 100 points in a season, scoring 101 points for the Whalers in 1989-1990.

Eric Staal- While Ron Francis is the leader in goals, assists and points in franchise history, Eric Staal may go down as the greatest player in the team franchise history. Staal was drafted 2nd overall in the 2003 draft and made an impact almost immediately. Following the lockout that wiped out the entirety of the 2004-2005 season, Staal scored 100 points in what was just his 2nd season and helped the Hurricanes win their 1st Stanley Cup in team history. Staal would captain the Hurricanes from 2010-2016 upon his trade to the New York Rangers. Staal finished his Hurricane career 3rd all-time in GP(909) and 2nd all-time in goals(322), assists(453) and points(775). Staal's #12 will be raised to the rafters this coming season on January 12th against the Anaheim Ducks.

Sebastian Aho- The first active Hurricane player to make the list, Sebastian Aho arrived on the scene in Carolina 2016. The 27 year-old Aho, is coming off a career year last season in which he scored 89 points in 78 games. Aho is already 3rd all-time in goals(254), assists(303) and points(557) in franchise history.

Jordan Staal- While it was tempting to give the last center spot on the team to Mike Rogers, as he had back-to-back 105 point seasons for the Hartford Whalers in 79-80 and 80-81, which is the all-time record for most points in season, Rogers only was with the franchise for those two years. So, it goes to another active Hurricane player in Jordan Staal instead. Staal joined the Hurricanes prior to the 2012-2013 season, ranking 4th in games played with 822. The current team captain in Staal is also 6th in team history in points with 427.

Left Wing

Blaine Stoughton- Stoughton played for the Whalers from 1979-1984. During that time Stoughton scored 219 goals and 377 points. Stoughton also was 1 of the 4 players with Francis, Staal, and Mike Rogers to score 100 points in a season when he scored 100 points in 1979-1980. Stoughton is also the only Whaler/Hurricane ever to score 50 goals in season, doing it twice with 56 goals in 79-80 and 52 goals in 81-82.

Teuvo Teravainen- Teravainen signed with the Chicago Blackhawks this past July after playing the last 8 seasons with the Hurricanes. Teravainen finishes his career with the Hurricanes ranking 15th in games played and 8th in points with 415. Teravainen played an integral role in the Canes offense during his time as a Hurricane, accumulating four 20+ goal seasons and reaching the 60+ point mark four times as well.

Geoff Sanderson- Sanderson played the first 8 seasons of his career with the Whaler/Hurricane franchise. During that time Sanderson had two 40+ goal seasons and led the team in scoring twice. His 196 goals are good for 8th all-time in team history.

Rod Brind'Amour- Affectionately nick-named "Rod the Bod'' for his physical shape that the current Hurricanes head coach has been known for, will go down as one the more beloved Hurricanes players of all-time. After being traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Hurricanes during the 1999-200 season, Brind'Amour went on to play the final 9 years of his career in Carolina. Brind'Amour finished his career 5th all time in points for the Hurricanes with 473 and captained the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2006.

Right Wing

Kevin Dineen- Dineen played in 708 games for the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise, ranking 4th all-time and served as team captain from 1996-1998. Dineen's 250 goals and 544 points rank 4th in team history.

Pat Verbeek- Pat Verbeek played for the Whalers from 1989-1995 before being traded to the New York Rangers. During his time as a Whaler, Verbeek scored 192 goals and 403 points. Verbeek had back-to-back 40 goal seasons in 89-90 and 90-91.

Justin Williams- Williams had two separate stints with the Hurricanes. "Mr. Game 7" was traded to the Hurricanes from the Flyers during the 2003-2004 season and helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in 2006. Williams scored the empty net goal for the Hurricanes in Game 7, sealing the 3-1 victory and Stanley Cup win. Williams was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Kings during the 08-09 season but returned to Carolina in 2017. Williams would serve as team captain during the 2018-2019 season. Williams went on to play in 20 games with Carolina in 19-20 before retiring.

Gordie Howe- While Howe only played one year for the Whalers, anytime you have one of the best players to ever play the game for your franchise they can't be left off an all-time best roster. Howe played for the Whalers in his last year in the NHL in the 1979-1980 season. At the age of 52, Howe still scored 41 points in 80 games. Howe played that last year in Hartford with his son, defenseman Mark Howe.

Defense

Glenn Wesley- Wesley's 913 games played as a Whaler/Hurricane rank 2nd only to Ron Francis. Wesley will go down as one of the most reliable and well known defenseman in Whaler/Hurricane history. His 227 points rank 4th all-time amongst Whaler/Hurricane defensemen.

Jaccob Slavin- Slavin is in the last year of his contract this coming season but with already have had signed a 8-year extension that kicks in next season, Slavin all but assuring he finishes his career with only having played for the Canes. Slavin already ranks 1st all-time in scoring amongst defensemen for the franchise and will quite possibly end his career as the all-time games played leader for the team. Aside from that, Slavin is one of, if not the best pure shut-down defenseman in the game today.

Justin Faulk- Faulk was traded to the St. Louis Blues in September of 2019 after spending the first 8 seasons of his career in Carolina. Faulk still leads the franchise in goals by a defenseman with 85 and is 2nd in points behind former teammate Jaccob Slavin.

Brett Pesce- The New York native Pesce went closer to home this summer after signing with the New Jersey Devils but will leave Carolina as one of the better defensive defensemen to play for the franchise. Pesce's 627 games played rank 3rd all-time in franchise history. While he wasn't known for his offense during his time with the Hurricanes, he ends his tenure with the Canes 5th all-time in points amongst defenseman.

Dave Babych- Known for his can't miss mustache during his playing days, Babych had a solid career for the Whalers. The Whalers acquired Babych from the Winnipeg Jets during the 1985-1986 season in exchange for Ray Neufeld. Babych went on to play in 62 games for the Whalers during that first season with the team and scored 53 points. Babych ended up playing in 349 games played for the Whalers scoring 240 points, which ranks 3rd all-time behind Jaccob Slavin and Justin Faulk.

Mark Howe- The son of Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe, Mark, may have only played 3 seasons with the Whalers but had a big impact. Howe's 24 goals and 80 points are the most goals and points scored in a single season by any Whalers/Hurricane's defenseman in franchise history. Overall, Howe's 198 points rank 5th all-time in franchise history in scoring amongst defenseman despite only playing 3 seasons with the franchise.

Related: Top Prospect Alexander Nikishin Could Join Hurricanes This Season.

Goalies

Cam Ward-Cam Ward's emergence as a #1 goalie in the NHL certainly wasn't the norm. After replacing a struggling Martin Gerber in the opening round of the 2006 playoffs, Cam Ward led the Hurricanes all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, eventually defeating the Edmonton Oilers to win their 1st Stanley Cup in franchise history. Ward captured the Conn Smythe Trophy, becoming the 11th goalie at the time to win the trophy. Ward holds the record for most games played(668), wins(318) and shutouts(27) in franchise history.

Arturs Irbe- This one was a toss-up between Irbe and Sean Burke, with Irbe ultimately winning out with a narrow margin. Irbe started his career with the expansion San Jose Sharks, making stops in Dallas and Vancouver before joining the Hurricanes in the 98-99 season. Irbe spent 6 years in Carolina, most notably bringing the Hurricanes to their 1st Stanley Cup final appearance in 2002, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in 5 games. Irbe is 2nd all-time in games played with 309 and 2nd to Cam Ward in wins(130) and shutouts(20).

Who would you include in this roster that wasn't listed? Let us know who was snubbed in the comments.