1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes season was the 26th season in franchise history, their 19th as a member of the National Hockey League (NHL), and their first in North Carolina. Formerly the Hartford Whalers, the team would play in Greensboro while a new arena was being constructed in Raleigh. The club finished sub-.500 and failed to qualify for the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs.

1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes
Division6th Northeast
1997–98 record33–41–8
Goals for200
Goals against219
Team information
General ManagerJim Rutherford
CoachPaul Maurice
CaptainKevin Dineen
ArenaGreensboro Coliseum
Average attendance9,086[1]

Offseason

In March 1997, Whalers owner Peter Karmanos announced that the team would move elsewhere after the 1996–97 season because of the team's inability to negotiate a satisfactory construction and lease package for a new arena to replace the Hartford Civic Center. In July, Karmanos announced that the Whalers would move to the Research Triangle area of North Carolina and the new Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh, become the Carolina Hurricanes, and change their team colors to red and black. Due to the relatively short time frame for the move, Karmanos himself thought of and decided upon the new name for the club, rather than holding a contest as is sometimes done.

Unfortunately, the ESA would not be complete for two more years. The only arena in the Triangle with an ice plant was Dorton Arena in Raleigh, which only seated 5,100 people—too small even for temporary use. The Hurricanes decided to play home games in Greensboro, ninety minutes away from Raleigh, for their first two seasons after the move. This choice was disastrous for the franchise's attendance and reputation. With a capacity of over 21,000 people for hockey, the Greensboro Coliseum became the highest-capacity arena in the NHL, but Triangle-area fans proved unwilling to make the drive down I-40 to Greensboro, and fans from the Piedmont Triad mostly refused to support a lame-duck team that had displaced the longtime Greensboro/Carolina Monarchs minor-league franchise. Furthermore, only 29 out of 82 games were televised, and radio play-by-play coverage on WPTF was often pre-empted by North Carolina State Wolfpack basketball (for whose broadcasts WPTF was the flagship station), leaving these games totally unavailable to those who did not have a ticket. With by far the smallest season-ticket base in the NHL and attendance routinely well below the league average, Sports Illustrated ran a story titled "Natural Disaster,"[2] and ESPN anchors mocked the "Green Acres" of empty seats; in a 2006 interview, Karmanos admitted that "as it turns out, [Greensboro] was probably a mistake."[3]

Regular season

Final standings
Northeast Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Pittsburgh Penguins8240241822818898
2Boston Bruins8239301322119491
3Buffalo Sabres8236291721118789
4Montreal Canadiens8237321323520887
5Ottawa Senators8234331519320083
6Carolina Hurricanes823341820021974
Eastern Conference[4]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82482311225166107
2Pittsburgh PenguinsNE8240241822818898
3Philadelphia FlyersATL8242291124219395
4Washington CapitalsATL8240301221920292
5Boston BruinsNE8239301322119491
6Buffalo SabresNE8236291721118789
7Montreal CanadiensNE8237321323520887
8Ottawa SenatorsNE8234331519320083
9Carolina HurricanesNE823341820021974
10New York IslandersATL8230411121222571
11New York RangersATL8225391819723168
12Florida PanthersATL8224431520325663
13Tampa Bay LightningATL8217551015126944

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

October

Record for the month 3-8-3 (Home 2-2-2 Away 1-6-1)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
1LOctober 1, 19972–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)0–1–017,808
2LOctober 3, 19973–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)0–2–018,661
3LOctober 4, 19972–3@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)0–3–018,500
4TOctober 7, 19973–3 OTLos Angeles Kings (1997–98)0–3–16,083
5WOctober 10, 19972–1New Jersey Devils (1997–98)1–3–16,352
6LOctober 11, 19971–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)1–4–115,175
7LOctober 13, 19971–3@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)1–5–112,530
8TOctober 15, 19973–3 OTBuffalo Sabres (1997–98)1–5–26,278
9LOctober 18, 19972–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)1–6–219,983
10LOctober 20, 19972–4@ New York Rangers (1997–98)1–7–218,200
11WOctober 22, 19974–3St. Louis Blues (1997–98)2–7–28,185
12TOctober 24, 19973–3 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)2–7–316,061
13WOctober 26, 19973–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)3–7–314,834
14LOctober 31, 19972–3 OTBuffalo Sabres (1997–98)3–8–37,555

November

Record for the month 7-5-1 (Home 5-3-1 Away 2-2-0)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
15WNovember 3, 19975–3Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)4–8–37,257
16WNovember 5, 19973–1Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)5–8–310,090
17LNovember 7, 19972–3New York Islanders (1997–98)5–9–37,742
18WNovember 9, 19974–1Ottawa Senators (1997–98)6–9–35,551
19WNovember 12, 19976–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)7–9–314,240
20WNovember 13, 19974–2@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)8–9–315,825
21LNovember 16, 19971–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)8–10–314,740
22WNovember 19, 19972–1Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)9–10–36,896
23LNovember 21, 19973–4New York Rangers (1997–98)9–11–319,358
24TNovember 23, 19973–3 OTCalgary Flames (1997–98)9–11–45,516
25LNovember 26, 19972–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)9–12–413,253
26WNovember 28, 19972–0Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)10–12–48,107
27LNovember 29, 19972–3Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)10–13–411,332

December

Record for the month 5-8-1 (Home 5-3-1 Away 0-5-0)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
28WDecember 1, 19973–1Boston Bruins (1997–98)11–13–45,865
29WDecember 3, 19975–3New York Islanders (1997–98)12–13–45,651
30TDecember 5, 19972–2 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1997–98)12–13–56,793
31LDecember 6, 19971–4@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)12–14–514,805
32LDecember 10, 19972–5Florida Panthers (1997–98)12–15–57,219
33LDecember 12, 19972–3 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)12–16–512,321
34WDecember 16, 19972–1Ottawa Senators (1997–98)13–16–57,317
35LDecember 18, 19972–3@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)13–17–514,437
36LDecember 20, 19971–2Washington Capitals (1997–98)13–18–58,118
37LDecember 23, 19972–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)13–19–519,594
38LDecember 26, 19972–5Florida Panthers (1997–98)13–20–58,684
39WDecember 27, 19974–1Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)14–20–58,682
40WDecember 30, 19972–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)15–20–58,309
41LDecember 31, 19972–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)15–21–515,108

January

Record for the month 5-7-1 (Home 1-3-1 Away 4-4-0)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
42LJanuary 3, 19981–6Dallas Stars (1997–98)15–22–59,266
43WJanuary 5, 19984–1Ottawa Senators (1997–98)16–22–56,055
44LJanuary 6, 19982–4@ New York Rangers (1997–98)16–23–518,200
45TJanuary 8, 19983–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1997–98)16–23–611,908
46WJanuary 10, 19982–1 OT@ New York Islanders (1997–98)17–23–613,679
47LJanuary 12, 19981–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)17–24–68,250
48LJanuary 14, 19981–4Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)17–25–610,704
49LJanuary 21, 19981–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)17–26–612,627
50WJanuary 22, 19984–2@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)18–26–615,491
51WJanuary 24, 19984–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)19–26–621,273
52LJanuary 27, 19980–3@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)19–27–614,703
53WJanuary 28, 19983–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)20–27–610,815
54LJanuary 30, 19980–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)20–28–613,275

February

Record for the month 1-2-1 (Home 0-1-1 Away 1-1-0)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
55LFebruary 1, 19983–6Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)20–29–69,591
56TFebruary 4, 19983–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)20–29–78,304
57WFebruary 7, 19983–1@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)21–29–716,944
58LFebruary 28, 19983–4@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)21–30–719,040

March

Record for the month 8-5-1 (Home 2-3-1 Away 6-2-0)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
59WMarch 2, 19983–1@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)22–30–716,237
60WMarch 5, 19982–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)23–30–710,541
61WMarch 6, 19985–4 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)24–30–716,210
62WMarch 8, 19983–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)25–30–717,174
63LMarch 12, 19980–2New Jersey Devils (1997–98)25–31–78,811
64LMarch 14, 19981–2San Jose Sharks (1997–98)25–32–712,911
65WMarch 15, 19984–1Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)26–32–77,853
66LMarch 18, 19980–1@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)26–33–712,792
67LMarch 20, 19981–6@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)26–34–716,928
68WMarch 23, 19985–3@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)27–34–714,703
69WMarch 26, 19984–1New York Rangers (1997–98)28–34–715,456
70WMarch 28, 19984–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)29–34–719,608
71LMarch 29, 19981–3Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)29–35–713,216
72TMarch 31, 19983–3 OTMontreal Canadiens (1997–98)29–35–88,671

April

Record for the month 4-6-0 (Home 1-3-0 Away 3-3-0)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
73WApril 1, 19984–0@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)30–35–816,338
74WApril 4, 19981–0@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)31–35–821,273
75WApril 6, 19983–0@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)32–35–815,180
76LApril 8, 19981–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)32–36–816,644
77WApril 9, 19985–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)33–36–88,368
78LApril 11, 19981–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)33–37–815,726
79LApril 13, 19982–3Boston Bruins (1997–98)33–38–89,228
80LApril 16, 19981–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)33–39–810,515
81LApril 18, 19983–4Washington Capitals (1997–98)33–40–812,641
82LApril 19, 19981–2@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)33–41–818,921

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Sami KapanenRW81263763169405
Keith PrimeauC8126376311019732
Gary RobertsLW612029491033402
Nelson EmersonRW8121244550-17604
Jeff O'NeillRW7419203967-8714
Robert KronLW8116203612-8402
Steve ChiassonD667273465-2600
Martin GelinasLW40121426301214
Glen WesleyD8261925367101
Kevin DineenRW5471623105-7001
Geoff SandersonLW407101714-4200
Paul RanheimLW73591428-11012
Jeff BrownD323101316-1300
Curtis LeschyshynD732101245-2101
Adam BurtD7611112106-6010
Stephen LeachRW4545942-19112
Kent MandervilleC7744831-6000
Kevin HallerD6535894-5000
Stu GrimsonLW823472040001
Ray SheppardRW1042622201
Bates BattagliaLW3324610-1001
Steven RiceRW4724638-16000
Sean HillD4205548-2000
Enrico CicconeD14033833000
Steven HalkoD1802210-1000
Nolan PrattD2302244-2000
Sean BurkeG2501160000
Kirk McLeanG801100000
Chris MurrayRW7011222000
Mike RucinskiD901120000
Kevin BrownRW40000-2000
Jeff DanielsLW200000000
Mike FountainG300020000
Pat JablonskiG500000000
Trevor KiddG4700020000
Steve MartinsC300000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Trevor Kidd26854721213972.17312371140.922
Sean Burke1415257115662.801655589.899
Kirk McLean4018420223.290181159.878
Pat Jablonski2795140143.010115101.878
Mike Fountain1633030103.6806858.853
Team:494382334182092.54422562047.907

[5]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage;

Awards and records

Draft picks

Carolina's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
122Nikos Tselios United StatesBelleville Bulls (OHL)
228Brad DeFauw United StatesUniversity of North Dakota (WCHA)
380Francis Lessard CanadaVal-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
488Shane Willis CanadaLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
6142Kyle Dafoe CanadaOwen Sound Platers (OHL)
7169Andrew Merrick United StatesUniversity of Michigan (CCHA)
8195Niklas Nordgren SwedenModo Hockey Jr. (Sweden)
8199Randy Fitzgerald CanadaDetroit Whalers (OHL)
9225Kent McDonell CanadaGuelph Storm (OHL)

Farm teams

American Hockey League

The Beast of New Haven are the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate for the 1998–99 AHL season.

Transactions

The Hurricanes were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades
June 21, 1997 To San Jose Sharks
1st round pick in 1997 - Scott Hannan		 To Carolina Hurricanes
2nd round pick in 1997 - Brad DeFauw
3rd round pick in 1998 - Erik Cole
June 27, 1997 To St. Louis Blues
Alexander Godynyuk
6th round pick in 1998 - Brad Voth		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Stephen Leach
July 25, 1997 To Chicago Blackhawks
Ryan Risidore
5th round pick in 1998 - Morgan Warren		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Enrico Ciccone
August 8, 1997 To New York Rangers
Jason Muzzatti		 To Carolina Hurricanes
5th round pick in 1998 - Tommy Westlund
August 25, 1997 To Calgary Flames
Andrew Cassels
Jean-Sébastien Giguère		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Gary Roberts
Trevor Kidd
November 17, 1997 To Ottawa Senators
Chris Murray		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Sean Hill
January 2, 1998 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Jeff Brown		 To Carolina Hurricanes
4th round pick in 1999 - Evgeny Pavlov
January 2, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Sean Burke
Enrico Ciccone
Geoff Sanderson		 To Hartford Whalers
Kirk McLean
Martin Gelinas
March 23, 1998 To Florida Panthers
Kirk McLean		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Ray Sheppard

Free agents
PlayerFormer Team
Pat JablonskiPhoenix Coyotes
Mike FountainVancouver Canucks
Greg KoehlerUniversity of Massachusetts-Lowell (NCAA)
PlayerNew Team
Derek KingToronto Maple Leafs
Dave BabychVancouver Canucks
Bob WrenAnaheim Mighty Ducks

Roster
1997-98 Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

References
  1. "NHL Average Attendance since 1989-90". Andrew's Dallas Stars Page. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  2. Callaghan, Gerry. "Natural Disaster." Sports Illustrated, October 27, 1997; Web article retrieved November 19, 2008.
  3. Burnside, Scott. "Karmanos: Hard-nosed owner, die-hard hockey fan." ESPN.com, June 6, 2008; Web article retrieved February 14, 2009.
  4. "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  5. "1997-98 Carolina Hurricanes Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  6. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.426, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
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