Keith Primeau played for the Carolina Hurricanes for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Before that, the
Detroit Red Wings drafted Primeau third overall in the 1990 NHL entry draft. After splitting time between Detroit and their minor league affiliate in his first two seasons, Primeau played for the team full-time in the 1992 season. He played five seasons with the Red Wings until they traded him to the Hartford Whalers in the 1997 season. He was part of the infamous Brendan Shanahan trade after he refused to play for the Hartford Whalers. In return for Shanahan, Hartford received Keith Primeau, Paul Coffey, and a 1997 first round draft pick.