The 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes: How The Team Was Built

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The Carolina Hurricanes celebrated the 10th Anniversary of their 2005-06 Stanley Cup championship team. Those Canes went 52-22-8 (112 points) during the regular season, before disposing of the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and finally the Edmonton Oilers. How were they molded into a championship squad? For that, we take a look at how a roster was built.

Hurricanes draft choices – (Seven home grown players: first round (3), third round (1), fourth round (2), ninth round (1)).

Eric Staal –

2003, 1st round (2nd overall). In 2005-06, Staal set career highs with 45 goals, 55 assists and 100 points, finishing fourth in Hart Trophy voting. During the postseason, Staal paced all players with 19 helpers, 28 points and seven power play tallies. Staal’s overtime (2-1) winner in Game 3 at Montreal, helped turnaround the series for Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes Eric Staal - Photo By Andy Martin Jr
Carolina Hurricanes Eric Staal – Photo By Andy Martin Jr

Andrew Ladd –

2004, 1st round (4th overall). Ladd posted eleven points across 29 games. In the playoffs, Ladd added five points across 17 contests.

Craig Adams –

1996, 9th round (223rd overall). Adams was the final draft choice in Hartford Whalers history. During the regular season, Adams registered 21 points in 67 games. Adams skated in all 25 postseason contests with Carolina.

Erik Cole –

1998, 3rd round (71st overall). The 2005-06 campaign saw Cole notch career bests with 30 markers, 29 helpers and 59 points.

Josef Vasicek –

1998, 4th round (91st overall). Vasicek totaled nine points in 23 regular season games.

Niclas Wallin –

2000, 4th round (97th overall). Wallin recorded eight points across 50 regular season games on the Hurricanes blueline. Playing in all 25 postseason contests, Wallin notched five points and was a plus-three. Wallin netted an overtime (3-2) winner against New Jersey in Game 2 of the Conference Semi-Finals.

Cam Ward –

2002, 1st round (25th overall). The Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Ward, who won 14 games during the regular season, led all postseason netminders with 15 victories and 1,320 minutes played. Ward recorded a pair of shutouts, including one in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton. Ward also sported a .920 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average.

Cam Ward
(Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE)

Free agent signings – (Six free agents).

Matt Cullen –

Signed in the summer of 2004, Cullen notched a career best 25 goals and 49 points. Playing in all 25 postseason tilts, Cullen recorded 18 points. In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Canadiens, Cullen netted the eventual game-winning tally.

Ray Whitney –

Inked during the summer of 2005, Whitney posted 55 points in 63 games. During the playoffs, Whitney notched nine goals and 15 points. Whitney’s goal in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Devils’, proved to be the winner.

Chad Larose –

Signed during the summer of 2003, Larose totaled 13 points in 49 games. Larose recorded one helper across 21 postseason games.

Cory Stillman –

Signed in the summer of 2005, Stillman was second on the club in postseason scoring with 26 points. Stillman notched three game-winning tallies, including Game 4 (2-1) of the Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers. In the regular season, Stillman posted 76 points across 72 games.

Frantisek Kaberle –

Signed during the summer of 2004, Kaberle recorded a career high 44 points across 77 games. Playing in all 25 playoff contests, Kaberle recorded 13 points. In Game 2 (5-0) of the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton, Kaberle scored the eventual game-winning goal.

Oleg Tverdovsky –

Signed in the summer of 2005, Tverdovsky registered 23 points in 72 games.

Trades – (Nine trades: Philadelphia (2), Florida (1), St. Louis (1), Pittsburgh (1), Boston (1), Detroit (1), Calgary (1), Anaheim (1)).

Rod Brind’Amour –

Acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in 2000. The Hurricanes captain Brind’Amour earned the Selke Trophy in 2005-06. Brind’Amour also potted 31 goals in the regular season. During the postseason, Brind’Amour netted 12 goals and totaled 18 points. Brind’Amour netted four game-winning tallies, including the Eastern Conference Finals clincher in Game 7 against the Sabres.

Kevyn Adams –

Traded from the Florida Panthers in 2002. Adams posted a career best 15 markers with Carolina in 2005-06. Adams played in all 25 postseason games.

https://twitter.com/AdamsKevyn/status/699234066990833664

Doug Weight –

Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in 2006. Weight recorded 13 points across 23 regular season games down the stretch. In 23 more postseason matches, Weight totaled a career best 16 points.

Justin Williams –

Traded from Philadelphia in 2004. In 2005-06, Williams set career highs with 31 goals, 45 helpers and 76 points. Playing in all 25 playoff games, Williams was third on the team with 18 points and netted the game-winning tally (5-4) in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers.

Mark Recchi –

Acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006. Recchi totaled seven points across 20 games. In the playoffs, Recchi registered seven goals and 16 points. Recchi netted a pair of game winners as well.

Glen Wesley –

Acquired by the Whalers from the Boston Bruins in 1994, Wesley was a plus-ten with the Hurricanes in 2005-06. Playing in all 25 postseason games, Wesley registered two assists and accumulated 16 penalty minutes.

Aaron Ward –

Traded from the Detroit Red Wings in 2001, Ward totaled 25 points across 71 contests. Appearing in all 25 playoff contests, Ward recorded five points and 18 penalty minutes.

Bret Hedican –

Acquired from the Panthers in 2002, Hedican posted 27 points across 74 games and recorded a plus-eleven rating. Across 25 playoff games, Hedican totaled eleven points and was a plus-six on defense.

Mike Commodore –

Acquired in 2005 from the Calgary Flames. Commodore was a career best plus-12 on the blueline and posted a career high 138 penalty minutes. Across all 25 playoff games, Commodore recorded two goals, two assists and 33 penalty minutes.

Martin Gerber –

Traded from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2004. Gerber posted a career high 38 victories, three shutouts and also led the squad with a 2.78 goals-against average. Gerber appeared in six postseason contests and recorded a shutout (4-0) in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Buffalo.