Today we take a look at how the current Carolina Hurricanes roster was built. This is the story of how a Hurricane is formed.
Carolina Roster: Goaltenders
Cam Ward is the de facto starter of the Hurricanes when healthy. He is a home-grown product, having been drafted by the Hurricanes in 2002 in the first rund, 25th overall.
Justin Peters is one of two goaltenders filling in for Ward while he recovers from injury. He is another Carolina draft product, having been drafted in the 2004 Entry draft in the second round, 38th overall.
Anton Khudobin rounds out the three active goaltenders on the Carolina roster. Khudobin was drafted in the same draft as Peters, in the seventh round (206th) by the Minnesota Wild. He was traded to the Boston Bruins in 2011, then signed as a free agent by Carolina in 2013.
Carolina Roster: Defensemen
We start with Brett Bellemore. He was drafted by the Hurricanes in the 2007 Entry Draft in the sixth round, 162nd overall.
Justin Faulk is another prospect drafted by the Hurricanes. He was drafted in 2010, in the second round, 37th overall.
Ron Hainsey is one of the veteran blueliners on the Carolina roster. He was originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2000 Entry Draft in the first round, 13th overall. He was then signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets as a restricted free agent in 2006. After his two years in Ohio, Hainsey was then signed by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2008, and moved with the team to Winnipeg in 2011. After two seasons with the Jets, Hainsey then signed with the Hurricanes in 2013.
Jay Harrison was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2001 in third round, 82nd overall. He then made his way to Carolina as a free agent in 2009, where he has been ever since, signing a three year contract extension in 2012.
Mike Komisarek first broke into the league as a draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2001, 7th overall. After several seasons as a mainstay on the Habs’ blueline, he then signed with Toronto in the summer of 2009. After four forgettable years with the Maple Leafs, he then was signed by Carolina in 2013. He currently has only played fourteen games this season.
John-Michael Liles was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2000 Entry Draft in the fifth round, 159th overall. He was a fixture in Colorado for several years before being traded to the Maple Leafs in 2011. He was then traded to the Hurricanes for Tim Gleason in 2014.
Ryan Murphy is another Carolina prospect who has played his way onto the big club. He was drafted by the Hurricanes in 2011 in the first round, 12th overall.
Andrej Sekera rounds out the defence for the Hurricanes. He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2004 in the third round, 71st overall. He stayed with Buffalo until the summer of 2013, when the Sabres traded him to Carolina for Jamie McBain and the 35th draft pick in that summer’s Entry Draft.
Carolina Roster: Forwards
Drayson Bowman starts us off. Bowman is a Carolina draft pick, having been selected in the third round, 72nd overall, in the 2007 draft.
Radek Dvorak is the senior statesman of the Carolina forwards at age 36. He has quite the well-traveled path to the Hurricanes, having been drafted by the Florida Panthers in 1995, 10th overall. He was then traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2000. The New York Rangers traded for him a year later. In 2003, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. After three seasons, he was signed by the St. Louis Blues in 2006. In 2007, he returned home to Florida, signing with the Panthers as a free agent. After three seasons he was traded by the Panthers to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011. In the summer of the same year, he signed with the Dallas Stars as a free agent. He was then signed by the Anaheim Ducks in 2013, then signed with the Hurricanes in the fall of the same year.
Patrick Dwyer was drafted by the Thrashers in 2002, 116th overall in the fourth round. He then signed with the Hurricanes in 2006.
Nathan Gerbe was drafted by Buffalo in 2005, despite his small stature. He was drafted in the fifth round, 142nd overall. He signed with the Hurricanes in the summer of 2013.
Elias Lindholm was drafted by the Hurricanes in 2013, in the first round, 5th overall.
Manny Malholtra is another veteran on the Hurricanes roster. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1998, 7th overall. He was then traded to the Dallas Stars in 2002. He was put on waivers by the Stars, and picked up by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2003. He stayed with the Jackets until 2009, when he signed with the San Jose Sharks. The following summer, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks. In 2013, despite a severe eye injury, he signed with the Hurricanes, where he is an assistant captain.
Riley Nash was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007, 21st overall. He was traded to Carolina in 2010 in exchange for a second round pick.
Tuomo Ruutu was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2001, 9th overall. He was then traded to the Carolina franchise for Andrew Ladd.
Alexander Semin was signed as a free agent in 2012, after spending ten seasons in Washington after being drafted by the Capitals in 2002, 13th overall.
Jeff Skinner was drafted by the Hurricanes in 2010, 7th overall. He has developed into a true offensive threat for Carolina.
Eric Staal is the Hurricanes’ heart and soul, evidenced by the fact he wears the captain’s “C”. He was drafted by Carolina in 2003, 2nd overall behind Marc-Andre Fleury.
Jordan Staal was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, 2nd overall, behind Erik Johnson. He was traded to Carolina at the 2012 Entry Draft in exchange for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin, and the 8th overall draft pick in 2012.
Jiri Tlusty was drafted 13th overall in 2006 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was traded to Carolina in 2009 by the Leafs in exchange for Philippe Paradis.
Hurricanes Roster: Summary
The Hurricanes have nine of their own draft picks on their roster, with nine players added by free agency. Six members of their current roster were acquired by trades. There are fourteen first round picks on the current roster. Time will tell what moves Carolina GM Jim Rutherford has up his sleeve to improve the roster in the coming weeks.
