NHL Saturday is moving through the franchises that joined the league with the demise of the WHA in 1979, and the third of those four organizations is the modern-day Carolina Hurricanes. Of course, the team began its NHL journey as the beloved Hartford Whalers—one of the most fascinating professional sports franchises ever known in North America. The players below represent the organization at its best and worst.

No. 10: Jeff Skinner, F—46 PS (2010-2018)

The No. 7 overall pick in the draft, he won the Calder vote in 2011 but the team never made the postseason during his entire tenure in Carolina—and he never made an All-Star team, either. His 8.1 Point Shares during that rookie season represents just one of only two seasons in his Hurricanes stint that he cleared 8.0 PS, the other being 2016-2017 (8.8). Overall, it’s safe to say that he just wasn’t an impactful player overall.

No. 9: Brett Pesce, D—46 PS (2015-present)

Just a third-round pick, he’s done fairly well for himself in the NHL, despite never making an All-Star squad. He has finished in the Top 20 Norris vote twice (2019, 2021), so there’s that. Averaging 21:05 ATOI for his career so far, he’s been reliable, if nothing else: his 7.9 PS mark in 2018-2019 represents a career high. His ATOI jumps to 23:25 in 57 playoff games , helping the Hurricanes to six straight postseasons now. Nice.

No. 8: Artūrs Irbe, G—48 PS (1998-2004)

He played his final six NHL seasons with Carolina, posting a 130-122-44 record in the regular season and going 10-8 in net as the Hurricanes reached their first Stanley Cup Final ever in 2002. He was a Top 10 Vezina vote getter, as well in 1999 and 2001—not bad when we consider he was already in his age-31 season when he came to the Hurricanes after stints in San Jose, Dallas, and Vancouver. Certainly a key player here.

No. 7: Sean Burke, G—50 PS (1992-1997)

The No. 24 overall pick in 1985 by New Jersey, he found his way to the Whale in his fifth NHL season and put up a 107-131-29 record for the franchise in both locations. He never got the team to the playoffs, but he did finish eighth in the 1995 Vezina vote. He was never an All Star, but his best season with the franchise came in 1995-1996 when he posted 12.5 Point Shares. He managed two other seasons over 9.0 PS with the team.

No. 6: Glen Wesley, D—53 PS (1994-2008)

The Boston Bruins picked him No. 3 overall in the draft, but he ended up in Hartford by age 26—spending his final 13 seasons with the Whalers and then the Hurricanes. That’s a lot of seasons toiling away to manage this small number of Point Shares in the organization. Yet he was rewarded for his loyalty, if we want to call it that, with the Cup championship in 2006. That’s something to hang his on, forever, obviously.

No. 5: Jaccob Slavin, D—61 PS (2015-present)

A fourth rounder, he’s won the Lady Byng twice (2021, 2014), which is nice. Eight seasons in a row now, too, he’s finished in the Top 20 voting for the Norris, although his best result was fifth in 2020. He’s certainly exceeded expectations and brought a lot of value, considering his draft status. His best years? Both 2016-2017 (8.6 PS) and 2021-2022 (8.9). His 5.7 defensive Point Shares topped the league in 2019-2020. Sweet.

No. 4: Sebastian Aho, F—68 PS (2016-present)

With so many current players on this list, it’s a golden age for Hurricanes hockey that only lacks a Cup title, really. This guy was a second-round pick, but like so many others on this list, he’s never been an All Star. He does have Top 10 vote finishes, though, for multiple awards: Calder (2017) and Hart (2019). His best season was the most recent one with 10.9 Point Shares; he enters his prime this upcoming year at age 27. Watch out!

No. 3: Eric Staal, C—86 PS (2003-2016)

The No. 2 overall pick, he spent his first 12-plus NHL seasons with the Hurricanes, making the All-Star team in 2006. He finished fourth in the Hart vote that season, as the team won the Stanley Cup. In those playoffs, he topped all skaters with 19 assists and 28 points, so he had an impact on the championship, for sure, justifying his draft value right there. His 11.1 Point Shares that season was his career-best effort.

No. 2: Ron Francis, C—95 PS (1981-1991, 1998-2004)

In two separate stints, one with Hartford and one with Carolina, he played almost 1,200 regular-season games with the organization, becoming its face, in essence. Never an All Star, he is in the Hall of Fame, in part for the role he played on another team in between his time with the franchise. His season with the team came at age 38 in 2001-2002, when he posted 8.7 Point Shares and helped the team make it the Finals.

No. 1: Cam Ward, G—109 PS (2005-2018)

A late first-round pick, he didn’t get a single vote for the Calder in 2006—but ended up winning the Conn Smythe vote as the team won its first and only Cup title. He never made an All-Star team, although he did finish seventh in the Vezina vote twice (2009, 2011). His 318-244-84 record with the Hurricanes, despite just two postseasons (2009) and a 23-18 record there, is very impressive considering the quality of those teams.