For nearly a decade, the Hurricanes were a league-wide footnote, and postseason hockey in Carolina was nothing but a pipe dream and a reflection of yesteryear.
However, the 2018-19 season was a different story, as the Hurricanes captivated fans with exuberant post-win celebrations and embraced those who looked down on their fun shenanigans. But most importantly, they won, snapping the NHL's longest postseason drought and making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
Even though the season ended in bitter fashion - a sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Thursday night - captain Justin Williams was able to reflect on the impact this campaign had not only on Carolina fans but on the entire league.
"I'm proud of what we've done," the 37-year-old told reporters postgame, per NBC Sports. "I'm proud that we've gotten ourselves relevant again. I'm proud that we raised the bar in the organization, and I'm proud of every one of my teammates."
One of the primary reasons for the Hurricanes' miracle run was the leadership from head coach Rod Brind'Amour. But even though his squad exceeded all possible expectations, he didn't stray from his fiery yet compassionate persona when reflecting on Thursday's 4-0 loss.
"I want to thank the people and community for supporting us. I hate that we went out like that on that game," Brind'Amour told Michael Smith of the team's website. "That was a dud game for them to come watch. I apologize for that. Tremendous support for our team. ... It's a real community feel. It's something special."
The Bunch of Jerks' season may be over, but with a young, promising core and plenty of cap space, there's no reason to believe it'll be another nine-year wait for playoff hockey in Raleigh, N.C.
For nearly a decade, the Hurricanes were a league-wide footnote, and postseason hockey in Carolina was nothing but a pipe dream and a reflection of yesteryear.
However, the 2018-19 season was a different story, as the Hurricanes captivated fans with exuberant post-win celebrations and embraced those who looked down on their fun shenanigans. But most importantly, they won, snapping the NHL's longest postseason drought and making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
Even though the season ended in bitter fashion - a sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Thursday night - captain Justin Williams was able to reflect on the impact this campaign had not only on Carolina fans but on the entire league.
"I'm proud of what we've done," the 37-year-old told reporters postgame, per NBC Sports. "I'm proud that we've gotten ourselves relevant again. I'm proud that we raised the bar in the organization, and I'm proud of every one of my teammates."
One of the primary reasons for the Hurricanes' miracle run was the leadership from head coach Rod Brind'Amour. But even though his squad exceeded all possible expectations, he didn't stray from his fiery yet compassionate persona when reflecting on Thursday's 4-0 loss.
"I want to thank the people and community for supporting us. I hate that we went out like that on that game," Brind'Amour told Michael Smith of the team's website. "That was a dud game for them to come watch. I apologize for that. Tremendous support for our team. ... It's a real community feel. It's something special."
The Bunch of Jerks' season may be over, but with a young, promising core and plenty of cap space, there's no reason to believe it'll be another nine-year wait for playoff hockey in Raleigh, N.C.
The Boston Bruins' Don Sweeney, St. Louis Blues' Doug Armstrong, and Carolina Hurricanes' Don Waddell have been named finalists for general manager of the year, the teams announced Thursday.
Sweeney made two key trades for the Bruins prior to the deadline, landing Marcus Johansson from the New Jersey Devils for a pair of draft picks and acquiring Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Ryan Donato and a conditional draft pick.
The Bruins GM didn't make any major offseason splashes, but the low-risk depth signings of Jaroslav Halak, John Moore, Joakim Nordstrom, and Chris Wagner proved integral to Boston posting the second-best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference.
Armstong endured one of the busiest offseasons in Blues franchise history. He landed Selke Trophy candidate Ryan O'Reilly from the Buffalo Sabres without giving up any major assets and signed Tyler Bozak, David Perron, and Patrick Maroon in free agency.
His best move, though, may have been not making one at all. After an abysmal start to the season, the Blues were rumored to be sellers, but Armstrong gave his group time to gel before making any major moves. The team rewarded him with one of the league's hottest second-half runs, going from last in the NHL on Jan. 2 to a playoff berth by the end of the regular season.
Waddell had a busy offseason of his own during his first summer at the helm in Carolina. He made a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames at the draft, shipping out highly touted youngsters Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to acquire Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland.
He also solved the club's longstanding goaltending issues by signing Petr Mrazek to a one-year deal and claiming Curtis McElhinney off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. His pre-deadline trade sending Victor Rask to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Nino Niederreiter has proven to be one-sided in Carolina's favor.
The NHL's 31 general managers vote on the award at the end of the regular season. The winner will be announced on June 19.
It's tough to gauge what goes on behind closed doors inside NHL dressing rooms. Fans and media may believe a player fits as a team's captain due to their on-ice performance and the way in which they carry themselves in interviews, but it's their teammates and coaches who best know who the real leaders are.
Here, we predict who the six captainless organizations believe is their best leader and hand the "C" to next.
Detroit Red Wings
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Last captain: Henrik Zetterberg (2012-2018) Prediction: Dylan Larkin
This is a no-brainer.
Larkin was born in Michigan, went to the University of Michigan, and was a first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2014. Picking the next captain likely isn't Detroit's priority, but Larkin is the team's undisputed best player and the face of its youth movement, and has already displayed maturity beyond his years.
The Red Wings have had just three captains since 1986-87, so you can bet this decision will not be made in haste. However, there frankly aren't really any other contenders on the roster.
New York Rangers
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Last captain: Ryan McDonagh (2014-2018) Prediction: Mika Zibanejad
It's possible the Rangers go another season without a captain, but there's seemingly no point in delaying the inevitable of handing the honor to Zibanejad.
The Swede took major strides this past season. He led the team in goals and assists, and also paced all forwards in penalty-kill ice time, power-play ice time, and overall minutes. He's David Quinn's go-to guy and was often applauded for his effort level.
New York has already shipped out most of its veterans, and the ones who remain - such as Chris Kreider - may not have much longer. At 26, Zibanejad is already one of the team's more senior players and seems fit to lead the new wave of Rangers.
Ottawa Senators
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Last captain: Erik Karlsson (2014-2018) Prediction: Brady Tkachuk (for 2020-21 season)
Ottawa's roster has been stripped of most of its core veterans. Those who remain - Zack Smith, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Borowiecki, and Bobby Ryan - don't exactly scream captain material. It makes the most sense to hand the captaincy to a player who will (ideally) be with the Senators for a long time.
As the two faces of the organization's rebuild, Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot are the most probable candidates. Tkachuk is only 19 years old but appears ready to be a leader. Ottawa will likely go another season without a captain, but after one more year in the league, Tkachuk should get the opportunity to wear the "C."
Toronto Maple Leafs
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Last captain: Dion Phaneuf (2010-2016) Prediction: Auston Matthews
It seemed like a foregone conclusion after the 2017-18 season that Matthews would be the next captain for the Maple Leafs. However, the acquisition of John Tavares - who has five years of captain experience - and the emergence of Morgan Rielly makes the decision far less obvious.
While there seemingly isn't a wrong answer, Matthews is the franchise player and still the best candidate; the team looks to him with the game on the line, and more often than not, he delivers.
Vancouver Canucks
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Last captain: Henrik Sedin (2010-2018) Prediction: Bo Horvat
This is a rather obvious decision. Elias Pettersson may be the face of the franchise, but Horvat is the heart and soul of the Canucks. He does everything a coach could ask for and excels at it. At 24 years old, Horvat appears to be extremely mature, both on the ice and off it.
Tenured veterans Alex Edler and Chris Tanev could be considered, but neither appear to be in the long-term plans. Meanwhile, Horvat is signed through the 2022-23 campaign.
Vegas Golden Knights
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Last captain: N/A Prediction: Mark Stone (for 2020-21 season)
Through two years of existence, the Golden Knights have yet to name a captain. Las Vegas resident Deryk Engelland would've been the logical choice upon inception but is now a pending unrestricted free agent. There's a case to be made for Nate Schmidt - and perhaps a few others - but none make as much sense as Stone.
Stone is a coach's dream. This perennial Selke Trophy winner plays a complete game and makes the most of his skill set, and his teammates seem to be drawn to him. It also doesn't hurt that he signed an eight-year extension upon his arrival.
It makes sense to wait another year so Stone has a full season under his belt in his new surroundings before taking on the pressure of wearing the "C," but all signs point to him being the franchise's first captain.
The St. Louis Blues didn't hold back after Game 3 of the Western Conference Final ended on a controversial goal.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the overtime winner around five minutes into the extra frame, but officials missed what appeared to be a hand pass prior to the goal - which was not eligible for video review.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made his feelings known after the loss.
#stlblues GM Doug Armstrong just slammed his hand on the officials door. Very upset, yelled "(expletive) garbage."
St. Louis captain Alex Pietrangelo was also unhappy with the missed call.
"I didn't really get an explanation," Pietrangelo told reporters postgame. "I guess there's a different set of rules for two different teams. I'm sure they'll lose some sleep tonight after looking at it."
Pietrangelo then proceeded to laugh when asked if he saw a hand pass.
David Perron described the final play as an "unacceptable" way for the game to end.
"Yeah, it was a hand pass," said Perron, who scored twice in the losing effort. "But we're going to try and move forward and the league's going to take care of it like they've done in the past so far in the playoffs."
Blues head coach Craig Berube chose not to comment on the goal.
The Sharks have now benefited from three controversial calls thus far in the postseason. There was a questionable five-minute major against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, which was followed by a successful offside challenge that negated a Colorado Avalanche goal in Round 2.
Game 4 takes place Friday night in St. Louis with San Jose holding a 2-1 series lead.
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour wore his heart on his sleeve during his playing career, and apparently, not much has changed in his first season as a bench boss.
Brind'Amour offered a candid response Tuesday following his team's 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, who now hold a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Final.
"This hurts," Brind'Amour said postgame, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. "I told the guys, 'I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. We just got kicked in the you-know-where.'"
Despite the loss, the Hurricanes controlled 56 percent of the shot attempts and 54.8 percent of the high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.
"I think we can feel good about the fact that we at least gave them a game," Brind'Amour told WBZ's Michael Hurley. "I mean, we hadn't given them a game yet. It was pretty easy for them, so at least we battled hard."
The Hurricanes' power play was perhaps their biggest problem Tuesday night. They went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, and the Bruins' best penalty killer was none other than goaltender Tuukka Rask.
The Buffalo Sabres will name former Edmonton Oilers bench boss Ralph Krueger as their next head coach, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
Krueger has taken an unconventional path to his newest job. He was the head coach of the Swiss national team from 1997 to 2010 and then served as an assistant coach with the Oilers for two seasons before taking over for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. After compiling a 19-22-7 record, he was relieved of his duties.
The 59-year-old then ventured into associated football and was director - and chairman shortly thereafter - of Southampton FC. In 2016, Krueger coached Team Europe to an unlikely second-place finish at the World Cup of Hockey.
Krueger will replace Phil Housley, who was fired on April 7.
Mark Stone ripped a power-play goal with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to help Canada escape with a 6-5 win over the host Slovakia in their round-robin clash at the World Championship on Monday.
The late game-winner made quite a birthday present for Stone, as the Vegas Golden Knights forward turned 27 on Monday.
Special teams proved to be the difference in a highly competitive contest; Canada finished 3-for-4 on the power play while Slovakia failed to score on five attempts with the man advantage.
With the raucous home crowd behind it, Slovakia controlled play for long stretches in the third frame before finally notching the equalizer off the stick of Matus Sukel. But Erik Cernak took a penalty seven minutes later, setting up Stone's dramatic winner.
Canada played much of the contest with only five defensemen. Dante Fabbro suffered a cut near his mouth in the first period and didn't return, and Brandon Montour also departed with an undisclosed injury.
With two wins and one loss, Canada sits tied for second in Group A with 6 points. Slovakia is fifth with three points after playing international juggernauts Finland, the U.S., and Canada.
Slovakia will face Germany on Wednesday while Canada has two days off before playing France on Thursday.
Mark Stone ripped a power-play goal with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to help Canada escape with a 6-5 win over the host Slovakia in their round-robin clash at the World Championship on Monday.
The late game-winner made quite a birthday present for Stone, as the Vegas Golden Knights forward turned 27 on Monday.
Special teams proved to be the difference in a highly competitive contest; Canada finished 3-for-4 on the power play while Slovakia failed to score on five attempts with the man advantage.
With the raucous home crowd behind it, Slovakia controlled play for long stretches in the third frame before finally notching the equalizer off the stick of Matus Sukel. But Erik Cernak took a penalty seven minutes later, setting up Stone's dramatic winner.
Canada played much of the contest with only five defensemen. Dante Fabbro suffered a cut near his mouth in the first period and didn't return, and Brandon Montour also departed with an undisclosed injury.
With two wins and one loss, Canada sits tied for second in Group A with 6 points. Slovakia is fifth with three points after playing international juggernauts Finland, the U.S., and Canada.
Slovakia will face Germany on Wednesday while Canada has two days off before playing France on Thursday.
The Ottawa Senators are interested in reuniting with an old flame.
The Sens have received permission to interview Dallas Stars assistant coach Rick Bowness for the team's head coaching vacancy, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
Hiring Bowness would bring the organization full circle, as he was the first head coach in the franchise's history. He compiled a 39-178-18 record before he was fired in his fourth season during the Senators' forgettable infancy years.
The 64-year-old has been coaching since the mid-80s. His long resume also includes stops as the bench boss of the original Winnipeg Jets (1988-89), as well as with the Boston Bruins (1991-92), New York Islanders (1996-98), and Phoenix Coyotes (2003-04).
Before joining the Stars this past season, Bowness spent five campaigns on the Tampa Bay Lightning's coaching staff and seven seasons as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks.
Bowness will mark the sixth coaching candidate Ottawa has interviewed, according to McKenzie. Interim head coach Marc Crawford and Belleville Senators bench boss Troy Mann represent two internal candidates. Another one of the club's former coaches, Jacques Martin, has also been interviewed, as well as Toronto Maple Leafs assistant D.J. Smith and Providence College head coach Nate Leaman.
Ottawa finished last in the NHL with 64 points this season. In the midst of a rebuild, the Senators made it clear after Guy Boucher's dismissal that they're seeking someone with player development expertise.
