Sebastian Aho, Rod Brind’Amour named to Hurricanes’ NHL quarter-century team

The NHL unveiled its quarter-century team for the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.

Representing the top players who have suited up for the Hurricanes over the past 25 years, the first team is highlighted by forwards Sebastian Aho, Rod Brind’Amour, and Eric Staal, defensemen Jaccob Slavin and Glen Wesley, and goaltender Cam Ward.

Skating in his ninth season with the Hurricanes, Aho stands as one of the most prolific players chosen in the 2015 NHL Draft where in 643 career contests the Finnish forward has collected 267 goals and 334 assists for 601 points to sit second in franchise scoring.

Current head coach and former captain of the Hurricanes, Brind’Amour led Carolina to its first-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2006. A dominant two-way presence, Brind’Amour took home back-to-back Selke Trophy wins with the Hurricanes, recognized in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns. Brind’Amour sits third in Hurricanes’ all-time scoring with 473 points in 694 games.

The most productive player in franchise history, Staal is the Hurricanes’ all-time leading scorer in all major offensive categories including goals (322), assists (453), and points (775). Originally chosen second overall by Carolina in the 2003 NHL Draft, Staal’s time in Raleigh was underscored by his sophomore campaign when he reached the 100-point plateau then added an NHL-leading 28 points through 25 postseason appearances en route to a Stanley Cup championship.

A fourth-round selection from the 2012 NHL Draft, Slavin has spent his entire 10-year career in Carolina, where through 710 total appearances he has registered 52 goals with 234 assists for 286 points to rank as the Hurricanes’ all-time leading scorer among defensemen.

Also on the back end, Wesley is the lone defenseman to have his jersey number retired by the Hurricanes since the franchise’s arrival in Raleigh in 1997. Wesley leads all Hurricanes rearguards with 729 career games, while his 155 points rank fifth all-time. Wesley made 64 postseason appearances with Carolina, underscored by the team’s Stanley Cup title in 2006.

The Conn Smythe Trophy recipient from the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ward made a lasting impression with the Hurricanes where as a rookie he won 15 playoff contests coupled with a .920 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average. Ward remains the Hurricanes’ all-time winningest goaltender with 318 victories to his credit.

The Hurricanes’ second team includes forwards Ron Francis, Jordan Staal, and Justin Williams, defensemen Justin Faulk and Bret Hedican, and goaltender Arturs Irbe.

Captaining the Hurricanes from 1999 to 2004, Francis spent part of six seasons with the Hurricanes where through 482 total appearances he amassed 118 goals with 236 assists for 354 points to rank ninth in franchise scoring. Francis was a two-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner with the Hurricanes in recognition of his outstanding sportsmanship.

Currently in his sixth season as Carolina’s captain, Staal joined the Hurricanes prior to the 2012-13 campaign where in the ensuing 13 seasons he has made 867 total appearances – second to only brother Eric Staal – while collecting 174 goals with 276 assists to sit fourth in Hurricanes’ all-time scoring with 450 points.

Seeing two separate stints with the Hurricanes, Williams’ time in Carolina totaled 449 games in which he registered 128 goals and 188 assists for 316 points. Capturing the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006, Williams was a key offensive contributor that spring as he recorded seven goals and 11 assists in 25 playoff contests.

Originally chosen in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Faulk spent the first eight seasons of his career with Carolina where through 559 total appearances he sits second to only Slavin with 258 points counting 85 goals and 173 assists.

Also on the back end, Hedican was a steady defensive-minded rearguard over his six seasons in Carolina. Like Brind’Amour and Wesley, Hedican made a pair of runs to the Stanley Cup Final with the Hurricanes, winning it all in 2006. That spring, Hedican posted two goals and nine assists for 11 points en route to the championship.

Seeing six seasons with the Hurricanes from 1998 to 2004, Irbe sits second to only Ward in games played (309) and wins (130) with the franchise. The Latvian-born netminder was dominant during the 2002 postseason, as he posted a .938 save percentage with a 1.67 goals-against average to help the Hurricanes advance to the Stanley Cup Final.