The list of players the Carolina Hurricanes have acquired through free agency over the years who didn’t have a prior connection to the organization in some form has been, to be charitable, rather underwhelming.
The hits? Cory Stillman and Ray Whitney in the summer of 2005 are obvious. Ron Francis in 1998 sticks out as a signing meant to make a statement for a team struggling for relevance in the wake of moving to North Carolina moreso than a pure hockey move, although even as seen through that lens it was a successful signing.