Like many of you, I’ve spent some time during the NHL’s forced exodus revisiting the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2006 Championship. One thing that kept standing out to me was the Edmonton players who ended up playing for Carolina.
Of course, trades happen. Free agency happens. Players staying with one team throughout their career—while it does happen—is rare. Even teams who have die-hard rivalries occasionally see players move between them.
The 2006 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers wasn’t a breeding ground for hate despite the series going the full 7 games. There were big hits and hard-nosed play.