Editing Carolina Hurricanes (section)

==History==

===New England/Hartford Whalers (1971–1997)===
{{Main|Hartford Whalers}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=February 2021}}
The '''[[Hartford Whalers|New England Whalers]]''' were established in November 1971 when the [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA) awarded a franchise to begin play in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. For the first two years of their existence, the club played their home games at the [[Boston Arena]] and [[Boston Garden]]. With the increasing difficulty of scheduling games at Boston Garden (owned by the NHL rival [[Boston Bruins]]), the owners decided to move the team to [[Hartford, Connecticut]], beginning with the [[1974–75 WHA season|1974–75 season]]. While waiting for the completion of a new arena in Hartford, the Whalers played the first part of the season at [[The Big E Coliseum]] in [[West Springfield, Massachusetts]]. On January 11, 1975, the team played its first game in front of a sellout crowd at the [[Hartford Civic Center Coliseum]], and would maintain its home there through 1997.

[[File:Hartford-Whalers-Logo.svg|thumb|220px|Hartford Whalers logo.]]
As one of the most stable WHA teams, the Whalers, along with the [[Edmonton Oilers]], [[Quebec Nordiques]] and [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)|Winnipeg Jets]], were admitted to the NHL when the rival leagues merged in [[1978–79 NHL season|1979]]. However, under pressure from the extant NHL team in the [[New England]] area, the Boston Bruins, the Whalers were compelled to rename the team the '''[[Hartford Whalers]]'''. The Whalers were never as successful in the NHL as they had been in the WHA, recording only three winning seasons. They peaked in the mid-to-late 1980s, winning their only playoff series in [[1985–86 NHL season|1986]] over the Nordiques before bowing out in the second round to the [[Montreal Canadiens]], taking the Canadiens to overtime of game 7 in the process. The [[1986–87 NHL season|next year]], the club secured the regular season [[Adams Division]] title, only to fall to the Nordiques in six games in the first round of the playoffs. In [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]], the Whalers made the playoffs for the final time, but were bounced in the first round in seven games by the Canadiens. Two years later, the team hired [[Jim Rutherford]] as [[General manager (ice hockey)|general manager]], a position that he would hold within the franchise for twenty years.

For years, the organization maintained many Whalers connections among its off-ice personnel; in addition to many members of executive management and the coaching staff, broadcasters [[Chuck Kaiton]], [[John Forslund]] and [[Tripp Tracy]] (at the time a minor-league player), and equipment managers [[Wally Tatomir]], Skip Cunningham and Bob Gorman all made the move to North Carolina with the team. Finally, the old goal horn from the Hartford Civic Center remains in use at Lenovo Center. Kaiton and Forslund would both eventually leave the franchise; Kaiton in 2018 and Forslund in 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article214456059.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033727/https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article214456059.html| archive-date =July 25, 2018| title = Chuck Kaiton out as Carolina Hurricanes radio broadcaster, Luke DeCock column, July 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article248773645.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210218223700/https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article248773645.html| archive-date =February 18, 2021| title = Ex-Hurricanes broadcaster John Forslund joins Seattle Kraken}}</ref>

===Move to North Carolina (1997–2001)===
The Whalers were plagued for most of their existence by limited marketability. Hartford was the smallest American market in the league and was located on the traditional dividing line between the home territories for New York City and Boston teams. It did not help matters that the Hartford Civic Center was one of the smallest arenas in the league, seating under 16,000 spectators for hockey. The Whalers' off-ice problems were magnified when the start of the 1990s triggered a spike in player salaries.

Despite assurances made when he purchased the team in 1994 that the Whalers would remain in Hartford at least through 1998, in March 1997, owner [[Peter Karmanos Jr.|Peter Karmanos]] announced that the team would move elsewhere after the [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97 season]] because of the team's inability to negotiate a satisfactory construction and lease package for a new arena in Hartford. On May 6, 1997, Karmanos announced that the Whalers would move to the [[Research Triangle]] area of [[North Carolina]] and the new [[Lenovo Center|Entertainment and Sports Arena]] (ESA) in [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]]. Due to the relatively short time frame for the move, Karmanos himself thought of and decided upon the new name for the club, the '''Carolina Hurricanes''', rather than holding a contest as is sometimes done. Later that summer, the team dropped the Whalers' colors of blue, green and silver for a new black-and-red scheme, matching the colors of the [[NC State Wolfpack|North Carolina State University Wolfpack]], with whose men's basketball team they would share the arena in Raleigh. The Hurricanes inherited the Whalers' place in the [[Northeast Division (NHL)|Northeast Division]].

Unfortunately for the team, the ESA would not be complete for two more years. The only arena in the Triangle area with an ice plant was 45-year-old [[Dorton Arena]]; at 5,100 seats, it was too small even for temporary use. The Hurricanes chose to play home games in [[Greensboro]], 90 minutes west of Raleigh, for their first two seasons after the move. However, the team would be based in Raleigh and practice in nearby [[Hillsborough, North Carolina|Hillsborough]]—effectively saddling the Hurricanes with 82 road games for the next two years. This choice was disastrous for the franchise's attendance and reputation. With a capacity of over 21,000 people for ice hockey, the [[Greensboro Coliseum]] was the highest-capacity arena in the NHL. However, Triangle-area fans balked at making the 80-mile drive down [[Interstate 40|I-40]] to Greensboro. Likewise, fans from the [[Piedmont Triad]] mostly refused to support a lame-duck team that had displaced the popular [[Carolina Monarchs|Greensboro/Carolina Monarchs]] minor-league franchise. As a result, even with the first game hosting more than 18,000 fans, most games in Greensboro attracted crowds of 5,000 or fewer. The crowds looked even smaller than that in the cavernous environment. Furthermore, only 29 out of 82 games were televised (over-the-air and cable combined), and radio play-by-play coverage on [[WPTF]] was often preempted by Wolfpack basketball (for whose broadcasts WPTF was the flagship station), leaving these games totally unavailable to those who did not have a ticket. With by far the smallest season-ticket base in the NHL and attendance figures routinely well below the league average, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' ran a story titled "Natural Disaster",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Callahan |first1=Gerry |title=Natural Disaster |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1011183/index.htm |website=SI.com |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403021400/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1011183/index.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2010 |date=October 27, 1997}}</ref> and [[ESPN]] anchors mocked the "Green Acres" of empty seats; in a 2006 interview, Karmanos admitted that "as it turns out, [Greensboro] was probably a mistake."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burnside |first1=Scott |title=Karmanos: Hard-nosed owner, die-hard hockey fan |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=2470768&type=story |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015152/https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=2470768&type=story |archive-date=August 5, 2017 |date=June 4, 2006}}</ref> Under the circumstances, the Hurricanes managed to stay competitive, but still finished last in the Northeast Division with 74 points, nine points out of the playoffs.

For [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]], the Hurricanes curtained off most of the upper deck lowering the Coliseum's listed capacity to about 12,000. Attendance continued to lag. Most games attracted crowds of well under 5,000. Conversely, on the ice the Hurricanes' performance improved led by the return of longtime Whalers' captain [[Ron Francis]], [[Keith Primeau]]'s 30 goals, and [[Gary Roberts (ice hockey)|Gary Roberts]]' 178 [[Penalty (hockey)|penalty]] minutes. They tallied their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1992. They also won the newly formed [[Southeast Division (NHL)|Southeast Division]] by eight points, only their second division title as an NHL team (following the 1987 Adams Division title as the Whalers). Tragedy struck hours after the team's first-round loss to the Bruins, when defenseman [[Steve Chiasson]] was thrown from his pickup truck and killed in a single-vehicle drunk-driving crash.

The team finally moved to their newly completed arena in Raleigh in 1999. They became the first [[major professional sports leagues of the United States and Canada|major sports team]] to play in Raleigh, and remain the only such team there as of {{year}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article254847557.html|title=Canes at 25: A new home, and a fresh start for the Hurricanes in Raleigh|last=Alexander|first=Chip|newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer|date=October 7, 2021|accessdate=June 2, 2024}}</ref>

The aforementioned season was marked by an ultimately franchise-altering mid-season trade which saw Primeau dealt to the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] for several players, including future captain [[Rod Brind'Amour]]. With the move to the new arena, the Hurricanes introduced the "Storm Squad", the first cheerleaders for professional ice hockey in North America. In [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]], the Hurricanes managed to claim the eighth seed, nosing out the Boston Bruins, and landed a first-round match-up with the defending champions, the [[New Jersey Devils]]. The Devils eliminated the Hurricanes in six games. Down 3–0 in the series, the Hurricanes extended it to a sixth game, thereby becoming only the 10th team in NHL history to do so. Game 6 in Raleigh featured their best playoff crowd that year, as well as their loudest.<ref>{{cite web |title=McKay scores twice for defending champs |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/2001/20010422/recap/njdcar.html |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817032804/http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/2001/20010422/recap/njdcar.html |archive-date=August 17, 2012 |date=April 22, 2001}}</ref> Despite the 5–1 loss, Carolina was given a standing ovation by their home crowd as the game ended, erasing some of the doubts that the city would not warm up to the team.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Werthiem |first1=L. Jon |title=2001 NHL Preview - SI's 2001-02 NHL Team Previews: Hurricanes |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2001/features/preview/hurricanes/ |website=SI.com |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011031021444/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2001/features/preview/hurricanes/ |archive-date=October 31, 2001 |date=October 8, 2001}}</ref>

===Stanley Cup Finals and slow starts (2001–2006)===
The Hurricanes made national waves for the first time in the [[2001–02 NHL season|2002]] [[2002 Stanley Cup playoffs|playoffs]]. They survived a late charge from the [[Washington Capitals]] to win the division, but expectations were low entering the first round against the defending [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] champion New Jersey Devils. However, [[Artūrs Irbe|Arturs Irbe]] and [[Kevin Weekes]] were solid in goal and the Hurricanes won two games in overtime as they defeated the Devils in six games. Their second-round matchup was against the [[Montreal Canadiens]], who were riding a wave of emotion after their captain [[Saku Koivu]]'s return from cancer treatment. In the third period of game four in [[Montreal]], down 2–1 in the series and 3–0 in the game, Carolina would tie the game and later win on [[Niclas Wallin]]'s overtime goal. The game became known to Hurricanes fans as the "Miracle at [[Bell Centre|Molson]]"; Carolina won the next two games by a combined 13–3 margin over a dejected Habs club to take the series.

In the conference finals, Carolina met the heavily favored [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. In game 6 in [[Toronto]], the Maple Leafs' [[Mats Sundin]] tied the game with 22 seconds remaining to send it to overtime, where Carolina's [[Martin Gélinas|Martin Gelinas]] would score to send the franchise to their first [[Stanley Cup Finals]] appearance. During this series, several Hurricanes fan traditions drew hockey-wide media attention for the first time: fans met the team at the [[Raleigh-Durham International Airport]] on the return from every road trip and echoed [[American football|football]]-season habits honed for games [[Carter–Finley Stadium|across the parking lot]] by hosting massive [[tailgate party|tailgate parties]] before each home game, a relative novelty in the cold-weather-centric NHL. Inside the building, the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s [[Don Cherry (ice hockey)|Don Cherry]] lauded the RBC Center as "the loudest building in the NHL", praise that would be echoed in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friedlander |first1=Brett |title=Hurricanes fans bring the noise |url=http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=235349 |website=fayettevillenc.com |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617095459/http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=235349 |archive-date=June 17, 2006 |date=June 15, 2006}}</ref>

In the [[2002 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]], Carolina would face the [[Detroit Red Wings]], thought to be the prohibitive favorite all year. Though the Hurricanes stunned the Wings in game one when [[Ron Francis]] scored in the first minute of overtime, Detroit stormed back to win the next four games. Game three in Raleigh featured a triple-overtime thriller eventually won by Detroit's [[Igor Larionov]], the oldest player to score a last-round goal.

[[File:Eric Staal 2013-2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Eric Staal]] was drafted by the Hurricanes in the [[2003 NHL entry draft]]. He was named team captain in 2010. He was later traded to the [[New York Rangers]].]]
The Hurricanes looked poised to pick up where they left off in the [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], but never recovered from a 10-loss January and finished dead last in the league with 61 points. After a similarly slow start to the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]], [[Paul Maurice]], who had been the team's coach since midway through their next-to-last season in Hartford, was fired and replaced with former [[New York Islanders]] bench boss [[Peter Laviolette]]. Under Laviolette, Weekes remained tough, but the offense was suspect; center [[Josef Vašíček|Josef Vasicek]] led the team with a mere 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points. Many of the new fans attracted to the team (and to hockey itself) during the 2002 playoff run lost interest and attendance declined. One of the few positive results of these losing years was the team's drafting of [[Eric Staal]] in [[2003 NHL entry draft|2003]].

====Stanley Cup champions====
The outcome of the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]] led to the shrinking of the payroll to $26 million. The Hurricanes turned out to be one of the NHL's biggest surprises, turning in the best season in the franchise's 34-year history (including the years as the Whalers). They finished the regular season with a 52–22–8 record and 112 points, shattering the previous franchise records of 94 points (in the WHA) set by the 1972–73 Whalers and 93 points (in the NHL) set in [[1986–87 NHL season|1986–87]]. It was the first time ever that the franchise had passed the 50-win and 100-point plateaus. The 112-point figure was good for fourth overall in the league, easily their highest overall finish as an NHL team (tied with the third-overall [[Dallas Stars]] in points, but with one fewer win than the Stars) and second in the East (one point behind the [[Ottawa Senators]]). The Hurricanes also ran away with their third Southeast Division title, finishing 20 points ahead of the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. Attendance increased from the 2003–04 season, averaging just under 15,600 per game, and the team made a profit for the first time since the move from Hartford.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL Attendance Report - 2005-06 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/attendance/_/year/2006 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055613/https://www.espn.com/nhl/attendance/_/year/2006 |archive-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref>

In the playoffs, after losing the first two games of the conference quarterfinals series against the [[Montreal Canadiens]], Laviolette lifted goalkeeper [[Martin Gerber]], who had been struggling to regain his form after playing through a bout of intestinal flu, in favor of rookie [[Cam Ward (ice hockey)|Cam Ward]]. This proved to be a consequential decision, as the Hurricanes went on to win both games in Montreal, tying up the playoff series and turning the momentum around, winning the series on a game six overtime goal by [[Cory Stillman]]. Carolina then faced the New Jersey Devils in the conference semifinals, which proved surprisingly one-sided, as the Hurricanes beat the Devils in five games. Stillman struck again, once again scoring the series-winning goal.

In the conference finals, the Hurricanes faced the [[Buffalo Sabres]], who had finished just one spot behind the Hurricanes in the overall standings. The contentious series saw both coaches – [[Lindy Ruff]] and Laviolette – taking public verbal shots at each other's team. In the deciding game seven, the Hurricanes rallied with three goals in the third to win by a score of 4–2. [[Rod Brind'Amour]] scored the game-winner as the Hurricanes reached the [[2006 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] for the second time in team history.

[[File:RBC Center Stanley Cup Championship.jpg|left|thumb|The Hurricanes celebrate following their [[game seven]] victory in the [[2006 Stanley Cup Finals]].]]
The Stanley Cup Finals saw the Hurricanes facing the [[Edmonton Oilers]]. The Hurricanes rallied from a 3–0 deficit in game one to win 5–4 after Rod Brind'Amour scored with 30 seconds left. In game 2, the Hurricanes shelled the Oilers 5–0 to take a two-game lead. The Oilers won game three in [[Edmonton]], 2–1, as [[Ryan Smyth]] scored the game-winning goal with 2:47 left to play. Carolina rebounded in game four with a 2–1 victory, and came home with a chance to win the Cup on home ice. However, game five saw the Oilers come back with a stunning 4–3 overtime win on a shorthanded breakaway by [[Fernando Pisani]]. In game 6 in Edmonton, Carolina was soundly defeated 4–0; the only bright point for the Hurricanes was the return of forward [[Erik Cole]] from a broken neck that had sidelined him since March. In game 7, before the then second-largest home crowd in franchise history (18,978), the Hurricanes won 3–1, sealing the Hurricanes' first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. Cam Ward was honored with the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] for being the playoffs' [[most valuable player]], becoming just the fourth rookie to be honored with the award. Several Hurricanes raised the Cup for the first time in their long NHL careers; Rod Brind'Amour and [[Bret Hedican]] had both played over 15 years without winning the Cup, while [[Glen Wesley]], the last remaining member of the Hartford Whalers on the Hurricanes' roster, had waited 18 seasons. On the managerial side, general manager [[Jim Rutherford]] finally won the Cup in his twelfth year with the franchise since joining the Whalers in 1994.

The Hurricanes Stanley Cup championship marked the first professional major league sports title for a team from North Carolina. As well, they were the first NHL team to win the Stanley Cup despite losing at least nine playoff games in that year; the 2011 Boston Bruins, the 2014 [[Los Angeles Kings]], the 2017 [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], and the 2019 [[St Louis Blues]] are the only other teams to have achieved this feat.

===Post-championship slump (2006–2013)===
The Hurricanes were unable to follow up their recent success. Losing four players to free agency in the off-season and 222-man games to injury during the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]], the team struggled throughout the regular season,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hurricanes/2007-03-14-hurricanes-playoff-run_N.htm|title=Hurricanes tighten up for playoff run in East - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=February 8, 2016|archive-date=February 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221054323/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hurricanes/2007-03-14-hurricanes-playoff-run_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and once eliminated in the last game, the Hurricanes finished third in the Southeast and 11th overall in the Eastern Conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040400404.html|title=Hurricanes Eliminated From Playoff Race|agency=Associated Press|date=April 4, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713133048/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040400404.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This finish made them the first champions since the 1938–39 [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] to have failed to qualify for the playoffs both the seasons before and after their championship season, and the third champion overall to not defend its title after both the Blackhawks and the 1995-96 New Jersey Devils. In the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]], Carolina again missed out as [[Washington Capitals]] stormed back to take the division title on the last day of the season, leaving the Hurricanes second in the division and ninth overall in the conference, and making the Hurricanes only the second club in NHL history to miss the playoffs for two seasons running after a Stanley Cup triumph.

[[File:Jokinen 2009-02-26 498v1 wiki.jpg|thumb|upright|In 2009, the Hurricanes acquired [[Jussi Jokinen]] through a trade with the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. He has played with nine different NHL teams before leaving for the Finnish [[SM-liiga]].]]
After a slow start to the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]], Cup-winning coach [[Peter Laviolette]] was fired in early December and replaced by his own predecessor, [[Paul Maurice]]. Teetering on the edge of the playoff picture again, the club, on February 7, acquired utility forward [[Jussi Jokinen]] from the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in exchange for [[Wade Brookbank]], [[Josef Melichar]] and Carolina's fourth-round draft pick in [[2009 NHL entry draft|2009]], then reacquired winger [[Erik Cole]] from the [[Edmonton Oilers]] at the March trade deadline and proceeded on a 12–3–2 run to close out the season. The stretch run included nine straight wins, matching a franchise record from the 2005–06 season, and capped off a streak of 12 straight home wins, which set a new franchise mark. The team finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with 97 points, the second-most points in franchise history.

The Hurricanes' [[2009 Stanley Cup playoffs|2009 playoff]] run featured two tight series with dramatic finishes. Game 4 of the first-round matchup with the New Jersey Devils saw Stanley Cup playoff history when Jussi Jokinen scored with 0.2 seconds left in regulation to win the game, the latest regulation game-winning goal in NHL history. Then, in game 7, the Devils took a 3–2 lead into the final two minutes of the game at the [[Prudential Center]] in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] before the Hurricanes struck. With 1:20 to play, [[Tim Gleason]] saved a puck on his knees at the right point, passed it to [[Joni Pitkänen|Joni Pitkanen]] on the left boards, who then hit game 4 hero Jussi Jokinen at the far post for the tying goal. Just 48 seconds later, [[Chad LaRose]] sprang [[Eric Staal]] for a solo down-ice rush to give the Hurricanes 4–3 game and series win; Staal's goal was the latest regulation game 7-winning goal in playoff history. The game 7 comeback would become known as the "Shock at the Rock".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |title=This Day in Canes History: April 28 |url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/this-day-in-canes-history-april-28/c-316743794 |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 23, 2022 |date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> In the second-round matchup with the top-seeded [[Boston Bruins]], the Hurricanes ran out to a 3–1 lead before the Bruins battled back for two wins. In game 7 in Boston, [[Scott Walker (ice hockey)|Scott Walker]] scored the game and series winner 18:46 into overtime to send Carolina to the conference finals against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]. The Penguins, though, put a decisive end to the Hurricanes' string, sweeping the series 4–0 on the way to their own [[2009 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup championship]].

As a result of their surprise run, very few changes were made in the off-season. Veterans such as [[Aaron Ward (ice hockey)|Aaron Ward]], [[Andrew Alberts]], and [[Stéphane Yelle|Stephane Yelle]] were brought in to help drive the team further, but things did not go according to plan. The Hurricanes experienced a 14-game losing streak spanning October and November, and midway through the year, the Hurricanes replaced their only post-lockout captain [[Rod Brind'Amour]] with Eric Staal. Despite improved play during the second half of the season, they could not overcome the deficit from early on in the season. The Hurricanes would end up with the seventh overall pick in the [[2010 NHL entry draft]], eventually selecting [[Jeff Skinner]] from the [[Kitchener Rangers]] of the [[Ontario Hockey League]] (OHL). Brind'Amour retired over the 2010 off-season to take a coaching job with the club.

[[File:Jeff Skinner canes2 2011-11-12.JPG|thumb|upright|left|[[Jeff Skinner]] was awarded the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] for his rookie season performance in the [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11 season]].]]
The [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11 season]] was widely expected to be a transitional year from the veteran-heavy, high-salary club that opened 2009–10 to a younger, cheaper base. The Hurricanes contended for a playoff slot for the entire season aided by Skinner's emergence as an offensive phenomenon who, as the youngest player in the league, would lead all rookies in points. Raleigh hosted the [[2011 NHL All-Star Game]] in January, and Eric Staal captained a team he selected (opposite a team selected by the Detroit Red Wings' [[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]]) that featured Skinner (the youngest All-Star in NHL history), [[Cam Ward (ice hockey)|Cam Ward]], and (for the SuperSkills competition) defenseman [[Jamie McBain]]. The Hurricanes went into the final day of the season able to determine their own fate, but lost 6–2 to the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] to finish ninth in the East.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/car-vs-tbl/2011/04/09/2010021219|title=Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - April 9th, 2011|website=NHL.com|access-date=February 23, 2021|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920095515/https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tbl-vs-car/2011/04/09/2010021219|url-status=live}}</ref> Skinner was awarded the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] as rookie of the year, the first player in franchise history to receive that honor.

In December 2011, the Carolina Hurricanes fired coach Paul Maurice and hired [[Kirk Muller]]. On February 20, 2012, the Carolina Hurricanes signed Tim Gleason to a four-year, $16 million extension and two days later, on February 22, they also signed [[Tuomo Ruutu]] to a four-year, $19&nbsp;million extension. Two months later the Carolina Hurricanes announced that they had signed [[Jiří Tlustý|Jiri Tlusty]] to a two-year deal that would pay him $1.5 million for 2012–13 and $1.7 million for 2013–14 (Gleason and Tlusty would eventually be traded to the [[Washington Capitals]] and the [[Winnipeg Jets]] over the next few seasons). Despite the signings of Gleason, Ruutu, and Tlusty, the Hurricanes would finish fifth in the Southeast Division and twelfth in the Eastern Conference during the 2011–12 season, which forced them to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

On May 9, 2012, the 2006 Stanley Cup champions Hurricanes' game 7 victory was recognized as one of the NC Hall of Fame's "Great Moments" series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncshof.org/great-moments/|title=Great Moments - NC Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=February 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308105226/http://www.ncshof.org/great-moments/|archive-date=March 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the [[2012 NHL entry draft]], the Carolina Hurricanes traded [[Brandon Sutter]], [[Brian Dumoulin]] and their [[2012 NHL entry draft|2012]] first-round draft pick ([[Derrick Pouliot]]) to the Penguins in exchange for [[Jordan Staal]], uniting the player with his older brother, Eric Staal. On March 25, 2013, the Hurricanes signed [[Alexander Semin]] to a five-year deal, worth $35 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tsn.Ca Staff|title=Hurricanes ink F Semin to five-year, $35M contract extension|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=419105|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=March 26, 2013|archive-date=August 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801181418/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=419105|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, the team would finish third in the Southeast Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference, which would make the team miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season after a strong start was cut short by an injury to starting goaltender Cam Ward.

[[File:Bill Peters Hurricanes.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Bill Peters (ice hockey)|Bill Peters]] coached the Hurricanes from June 2014 to April 2018.]]

===Continued decline and relocation rumors (2013–2017)===
Before the 2013–14 season, the Hurricanes were realigned into the new [[Metropolitan Division]]. They would finish seventh in the division during the 2013–14 season (ahead of only the [[New York Islanders]]) and would miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, which prompted management to fire head coach Kirk Muller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/hurricanes/2014/05/05/hurricanes-fire-muller-amid-playoff-drought/8720015/|title=Hurricanes fire coach Kirk Muller|website=USA TODAY|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924050544/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/hurricanes/2014/05/05/hurricanes-fire-muller-amid-playoff-drought/8720015/|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, longtime general manager Jim Rutherford was moved to an advisory role after the season with longtime Whalers/Hurricanes star Ron Francis announced as his replacement on April 28, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/ron-francis-named-hurricanes-general-manager/c-716883|title=Ron Francis Named Hurricanes General Manager|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618002856/https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/ron-francis-named-hurricanes-general-manager/c-716883|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 19, 2014, [[Bill Peters (ice hockey)|Bill Peters]] was named head coach, becoming the fifth head coach in franchise history. Peters' teams would not break the Hurricanes' playoff drought. During the 2014–15 season, the team finished last in the Metropolitan Division and would miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article35456688.html|title=Carolina Hurricanes lose burden of playoff expectations|access-date=February 8, 2016|archive-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421194427/http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article35456688.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After team captain Eric Staal was traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, the team finished sixth in the division during the 2015–16 season. Things did not improve in the 2016–17 season. The Hurricanes finished seventh in the division, missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

The Hurricanes also experienced uncertainty about their future in Raleigh during this time. Karmanos was looking to sell the team, something he'd been trying to do for years. Attendance at PNC Arena had declined at a consistent rate since 2009. It became so bad the team finished second-to-last in average league attendance in 2014 and 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2017/12/5/16716870/carolina-hurricanes-attendance-tickets-pnc-arena | title=The Carolina Hurricanes are almost always last in NHL attendance, and that's (At least partly) by design | date=December 5, 2017}}</ref> Rumors started circulating in 2015 that the Hurricanes were possible contenders to move to either [[Las Vegas]] or [[Quebec City]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/hurricanes-in-swirl-of-quebec--las-vegas-nhl-relocation-speculation-175439292.html | title=Hurricanes in swirl of Quebec, Las Vegas NHL relocation speculation | date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> The Quebec rumors in particular were widely reported, with the Hurricanes and the NHL both refuting the claims.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2016/03/29/hurricanes-quebec-rumors-bill-daly-no-chance | title='No chance' Hurricanes move to Quebec | date=March 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2015/08/26/carolina-hurricanes-sale-quebec-move | title=Struggling Hurricanes may move to Quebec | date=August 26, 2015}}</ref> Las Vegas would eventually gain an expansion team in the [[Vegas Golden Knights]].

===Tom Dundon and the "Bunch of Jerks" (2017–present)===
Before the 2017–18 season, the Hurricanes unveiled new uniforms. On July 13, 2017, it was reported that [[Chuck Greenberg (businessman)|Chuck Greenberg]] had sent Karmanos a letter of intent to buy the team for $500 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehockeywriters.com/greenberg-to-purchase-hurricanes-for-500-million/ |title=Greenberg to Purchase Hurricanes for $500 Million |date=July 13, 2017 |work=The Hockey Writers |access-date=July 14, 2017 |archive-date=July 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717022719/http://thehockeywriters.com/greenberg-to-purchase-hurricanes-for-500-million/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-owner-received-offer-to-sell-team/c-290391034 |title=Hurricanes owner confirms he received offer to sell |publisher=National Hockey League |date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=July 14, 2017 |archive-date=July 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714023337/https://www.nhl.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-owner-received-offer-to-sell-team/c-290391034 |url-status=live}}</ref> Greenberg would ultimately back out of a deal. On December 7, 2017, it was announced that [[Thomas Dundon]] signed an agreement to purchase the Hurricanes,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Terrell|title=Dundon Signs Agreement to Purchase Hurricanes|url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/dundon-signs-agreement-to-purchase-hurricanes/c-293781954|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 12, 2018|date=December 7, 2018|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035458/https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/dundon-signs-agreement-to-purchase-hurricanes/c-293781954|url-status=live}}</ref> which ensured that the team would not be relocated.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rosen|first1=Dan|title=Hurricanes enter into purchase agreement, will not relocate|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-enter-into-purchase-agreement-will-not-relocate/c-293781978|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 12, 2018|date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=January 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112214910/https://www.nhl.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-enter-into-purchase-agreement-will-not-relocate/c-293781978|url-status=live}}</ref> The deal was finalized on January 11, 2018, with Dundon becoming majority owner and having a 61 percent stake in the team, while Karmanos retained a minority interest.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Michael|title=Dundon Becomes Majority Owner of Hurricanes|url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/tom-dundon-becomes-majority-owner-of-hurricanes/c-294863198|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 12, 2018|date=January 11, 2018|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035533/https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/tom-dundon-becomes-majority-owner-of-hurricanes/c-294863198|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dundon wasted little time in overhauling the Hurricanes' front office. On March 8, 2018, the team announced that general manager Ron Francis had been moved to the role of president of hockey operations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/ron-francis-out-as-general-manager-of-hurricanes-will-serve-as-president-of-hockey-ops/|title=Ron Francis out as general manager of Hurricanes, will serve as president of hockey ops|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618005758/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/ron-francis-out-as-general-manager-of-hurricanes-will-serve-as-president-of-hockey-ops/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[Sportsnet]] reporter [[Elliotte Friedman]] reported that the "promotion" was likely in name only, noting that there were rumblings Francis and Dundon did not see "eye-to-eye".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/971553595299586048|title=Elliotte Friedman on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=June 17, 2018}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=December 2018}} Subsequently, coach Bill Peters resigned from his position on April 20, 2018,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bill-peters-carolina-hurricanes-fired-1.4628503|title=Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters resigns|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527170140/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bill-peters-carolina-hurricanes-fired-1.4628503|url-status=live}}</ref> to pursue a similar opportunity with the [[Calgary Flames]] (he ultimately replaced [[Glen Gulutzan]] as the Flames' head coach three days later),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/flames-hire-bill-peters-new-head-coach/|title=Flames hire Bill Peters as new head coach|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618042658/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/flames-hire-bill-peters-new-head-coach/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Hurricanes officially fired Francis from the organization altogether on April 30, 2018,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/ron-francis-fired-carolina-hurricanes-1.4642058|title=Hurricanes fire former general manager Ron Francis|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623223838/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/ron-francis-fired-carolina-hurricanes-1.4642058|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving vacancies in both the head coach and general manager positions.

Early in the Hurricanes' search for a replacement general manager, it was reported that Dundon's salary offerings for the position could be prohibitive in attracting quality candidates.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/money-might-issue-carolina-hurricanes-gm-search/|title=Money might be an issue in Carolina Hurricanes' GM search|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618004405/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/money-might-issue-carolina-hurricanes-gm-search/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sportsnet's [[Nick Kypreos]] reported that the Hurricanes were offering "in the ballpark of $400,000 a year",<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/carolina-hurricanes-general-manager-search-rumors-nick-kypreos-salary-tom-dundon-news/185ubpszxq0up1b5xwbndilhau|title=Hurricanes GM search being stalled because of low salary offer, says report|date=March 17, 2018|work=Sporting News|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052431/http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/carolina-hurricanes-general-manager-search-rumors-nick-kypreos-salary-tom-dundon-news/185ubpszxq0up1b5xwbndilhau|url-status=live}}</ref> a fraction of the salary figures of many other teams' coaches,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capfriendly.com/coaches|title=CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps|website=CapFriendly|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604065419/https://www.capfriendly.com/coaches|url-status=live}}</ref> let alone those of their general managers, who serve in a higher-ranking position. Leading up to Kypreos' report, candidates such as [[Nashville Predators]] assistant general manager [[Paul Fenton (ice hockey)|Paul Fenton]], New Jersey Devils assistant general manager [[Tom Fitzgerald (ice hockey)|Tom Fitzgerald]], and [[Los Angeles Kings]] assistant general manager Mike Futa had all reportedly passed on the position.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Rod Brind'Amour 2011-12-03.JPG|thumb|left|[[Rod Brind'Amour]] was hired as head coach in 2018. He won the [[Jack Adams Award]] as the NHL's best coach in 2021.]]
Ultimately, on May 8, 2018, the Hurricanes announced the hiring of former [[Atlanta Thrashers]] general manager [[Don Waddell]] as team president and general manager. Waddell had previously been serving as the team's interim general manager since the promotion of Francis. At the same time, it was announced that former team captain Rod Brind'Amour had been named head coach, after serving with the team as an assistant coach since 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rod-brindamour-hired-head-coach-hurricanes/|title=Rod Brind'Amour hired as head coach of Hurricanes, Don Waddell named GM|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618042709/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rod-brindamour-hired-head-coach-hurricanes/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 4, 2019, the Hurricanes won 3–1 over the [[New Jersey Devils]], clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2009 and only the second time since their Cup win. During their stretch run, the Hurricanes gained notice for their on-ice victory celebrations, which they called "Storm Surges". This led [[Don Cherry (ice hockey)|Don Cherry]] of ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' to call the Hurricanes a "bunch of jerks". The Hurricanes adopted "Bunch of Jerks" as a battle cry,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/02/17/don-cherry-calls-carolina-hurricanes-bunch-jerks-because-victory-celebrations/|title=Don Cherry calls the Carolina Hurricanes 'a bunch of jerks' because of victory celebrations|author1=Jake Russell|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=February 17, 2019|access-date=April 24, 2019|archive-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424001136/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/02/17/don-cherry-calls-carolina-hurricanes-bunch-jerks-because-victory-celebrations/|url-status=live}}</ref> even going as far as projecting it on the ice at PNC Arena before and after games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/02/26/hurricanes-present-next-evolution-of-bunch-of-jerks-trolling/|title=Hurricanes present next evolution of 'Bunch of Jerks' trolling|author1=James O'Brien|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|date=February 26, 2019|access-date=April 24, 2019|archive-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424001145/https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/02/26/hurricanes-present-next-evolution-of-bunch-of-jerks-trolling/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[2019 Stanley Cup playoffs]], on April 24, the Hurricanes defeated the defending 2018 Stanley Cup champions, the [[Washington Capitals]], 4–3 in double overtime in game seven, winning their first playoff series since 2009. The team would then go on to defeat the [[New York Islanders]] in four straight games in the second round, recording the first best-of-seven playoff series sweep in franchise history, and advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 2009.<ref name="Second Round 2019">{{cite web |title=Facts and Figures: Hurricanes complete first sweep in best-of-7 series |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/key-nhl-statistics-numbers-may-4/c-307210432 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 5, 2019 |date=May 4, 2019 |archive-date=May 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504170609/https://www.nhl.com/news/key-nhl-statistics-numbers-may-4/c-307210432 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the first time since 1993 that an opposing team (the Islanders), that swept their opponent in the first round, the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], would then go on to lose four straight and drop the series.<ref name="Second Round 2019" /> This trend continued into the third round against the Hurricanes favor as they themselves were swept by the Boston Bruins, thus losing the conference finals.<ref name="Third Round 2019">{{cite web |title=2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Five reasons the Carolina Hurricanes were swept by the Boston Bruins |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2019-stanley-cup-playoffs-five-reasons-the-carolina-hurricanes-were-swept-by-the-boston-bruins/ |website=www.cbssports.com |access-date=May 17, 2019 |date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517191358/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2019-stanley-cup-playoffs-five-reasons-the-carolina-hurricanes-were-swept-by-the-boston-bruins/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 22, 2020, on the 40th anniversary of the [[Miracle on Ice]], Hurricanes emergency goaltender [[David Ayres]] became the first emergency goaltender in NHL history to win a game, a 6–3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team whose minor league affiliate he works for as a Zamboni driver and maintenance man. The season would come to an abrupt end on March 11 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. On August 3, 2020, Andrei Svechnikov became the first Hurricanes/Whalers player to score a hat trick in the postseason in a 4–1 win over the [[New York Rangers]]. By beating the Rangers, the Hurricanes made the playoffs for a second straight season. However, they lost to the Bruins in five games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/08/04/carolina-hurricanes-new-york-rangers-sweep-2020-stanley-cup-playoffs/|title=Hurricanes sweep Rangers, advance to next round|date=August 5, 2020|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816004638/https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/08/04/carolina-hurricanes-new-york-rangers-sweep-2020-stanley-cup-playoffs/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/08/19/bruins-eliminate-hurricanes-in-game-5/|title=Bruins eliminate Hurricanes in Game 5|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930072311/https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/08/19/bruins-eliminate-hurricanes-in-game-5/|url-status=live}}</ref> The loss also marked the first time since the 2001 playoffs that the Hurricanes lost in the first round.

The [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]] concluded with the Hurricanes winning the [[Central Division (NHL)|Central Division]], their first division championship since winning the Southeast Division in 2006. It was also the first time since moving to Raleigh that they had qualified for the postseason three years in a row and the first time in the history of the franchise that a head coach had taken the team to the playoffs in three consecutive years. They defeated the Nashville Predators in the first round in six games but lost to the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round in five games. Defenseman [[Jaccob Slavin]] won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]], notably only having two penalty minutes (PIM) for the entire season. Defenseman [[Dougie Hamilton]] was named to the NHL All-Star second team, and goaltender [[Alex Nedeljkovic]] was named to the NHL All-Rookie team and placed third in the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] voting, while head coach Brind'Amour was awarded the [[Jack Adams Award]], being the first in Hartford/Carolina history to receive it. On June 30, 2021, it was announced that Tom Dundon had purchased all remaining minority shares in the team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dundon Assumes Full Ownership of Hurricanes |url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/tom-dundon-assumes-full-ownership-of-canes/c-325524306 |website=NHL.com |access-date=July 1, 2021 |date=June 30, 2021}}</ref>

The 2021 off-season saw the Hurricanes overhaul the roster, resulting in many players departing. [[Warren Foegele]] was traded to Edmonton for [[Ethan Bear]], [[Ian Cole]] and Brendan Smith was signed to complement the depth on defense. The team also overhauled their goaltending, trading away [[Alex Nedeljkovic]] for a pick and signing [[Frederik Andersen]] and [[Antti Raanta]] as the new goalie tandem. In perhaps their most talked-about moves, the Hurricanes signed [[Tony DeAngelo]] and signed [[Jesperi Kotkaniemi]] to an offer sheet.

The [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]] concluded with the Hurricanes winning the [[Metropolitan Division (NHL)|Metropolitan Division]] for the first time in franchise history. This was the first time the Hurricanes had ever won division titles in back-to-back years since relocation. The Hurricanes finished the regular season with 54 wins, the most in franchise history. Andersen and [[Sebastian Aho (ice hockey, born 1997)|Sebastian Aho]] each represented the team at the [[2022 NHL All-Star Game]]. In the playoffs, the top-seeded Hurricanes defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round, before falling to the New York Rangers in seven games. In the [[2022–23 NHL season|following season]], the Hurricanes won their division. In the [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs|2023 playoffs]], they defeated the [[New York Islanders]] in six games in the first round, then defeated the [[New Jersey Devils]] in five games in the second round, but were swept by the [[Florida Panthers]] in the conference finals. In the [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24 season]], the Hurricanes finished second in the division. In the [[2024 Stanley Cup playoffs|2024 playoffs]], they defeated the Islanders in the first round again, this time in five games, but then got eliminated by the Rangers in six games in the second round despite staving off elimination in the fourth and fifth games.