2017–18 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2017–18 Carolina Hurricanes season was the 39th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979 (following seven seasons of play in the World Hockey Association), and 20th season since the franchise relocated from Hartford to start the 1997–98 NHL season. The Hurricanes failed to make the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. As of the 2025–26 season, this is the most recent season the Hurricanes missed the playoffs.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was released on June 8, 2017. 2017 preseason game log: 5–2–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 4–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 18 Carolina 3–2 Buffalo OT Nedeljkovic 16,310 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 19 Carolina 2–1 Tampa Bay Nedeljkovic 11,454 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 20 Tampa Bay 4–3 Carolina Smith 6,486 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 23 Carolina 4–1 Washington Ward 15,514 3–1–0 Recap 5 September 25 Carolina 6–2 Edmonton Darling 18,347 4–1–0 Recap 6 September 27 Edmonton 4–0 Carolina Ward — 4–2–0 Recap 7 September 29 Washington 1–3 Carolina Darling 8,797 5–2–0 Recap Notes: Game was played at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Regular season The regular season schedule was announced on June 22, 2017. 2017–18 game log October: 4–4–2 (Home: 1–2–2; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Minnesota 4–5 Carolina SO Darling 18,680 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 10 Columbus 2–1 Carolina OT Darling 7,892 1–0–1 3 Recap 3 October 14 Carolina 1–2 Winnipeg Darling 15,321 1–1–1 3 Recap 4 October 17 Carolina 5–3 Edmonton Ward 18,347 2–1–1 5 Recap 5 October 19 Carolina 2–1 Calgary Darling 18,119 3–1–1 7 Recap 6 October 21 Carolina 3–4 Dallas Darling 18,023 3–2–1 7 Recap 7 October 24 Tampa Bay 5–1 Carolina Darling 10,498 3–3–1 7 Recap 8 October 26 Carolina 6–3 Toronto Darling 19,070 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 October 27 St. Louis 2–1 Carolina Ward 10,069 4–4–1 9 Recap 10 October 29 Anaheim 4–3 Carolina SO Darling 10,108 4–4–2 10 Recap November: 6–4–3 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 2 Carolina 3–5 Colorado Ward 12,048 4–5–2 10 Recap 12 November 4 Carolina 1–2 Arizona SO Darling 12,019 4–5–3 11 Recap 13 November 7 Florida 1–3 Carolina Darling 8,828 5–5–3 13 Recap 14 November 10 Carolina 3–1 Columbus Ward 16,049 6–5–3 15 Recap 15 November 11 Chicago 4–3 Carolina OT Darling 16,778 6–5–4 16 Recap 16 November 13 Dallas 1–5 Carolina Darling 7,968 7–5–4 18 Recap 17 November 16 Carolina 4–6 NY Islanders Darling 11,188 7–6–4 18 Recap 18 November 18 Carolina 3–1 Buffalo Darling 18,028 8–6–4 20 Recap 19 November 19 NY Islanders 2–4 Carolina Ward 11,390 9–6–4 22 Recap 20 November 22 NY Rangers 6–1 Carolina Darling 11,398 9–7–4 22 Recap 21 November 24 Toronto 5–4 Carolina Darling 15,241 9–8–4 22 Recap 22 November 26 Nashville 3–4 Carolina SO Darling 11,133 10–8–4 24 Recap 23 November 28 Carolina 2–3 Columbus SO Darling 13,947 10–8–5 25 Recap December: 8–5–2 (Home: 5–0–0; Road: 3–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 1 Carolina 1–5 NY Rangers Darling 17,695 10–9–5 25 Recap 25 December 2 Florida 2–3 Carolina OT Ward 14,246 11–9–5 27 Recap 26 December 5 Carolina 0–3 Vancouver Darling 17,860 11–10–5 27 Recap 27 December 7 Carolina 4–5 San Jose OT Ward 16,947 11–10–6 28 Recap 28 December 9 Carolina 2–3 Los Angeles OT Darling 18,230 11–10–7 29 Recap 29 December 11 Carolina 2–3 Anaheim Darling 16,198 11–11–7 29 Recap 30 December 12 Carolina 3–2 Vegas SO Ward 17,520 12–11–7 31 Recap 31 December 15 Carolina 5–4 Buffalo OT Ward 17,610 13–11–7 33 Recap 32 December 16 Columbus 1–2 Carolina Darling 11,357 14–11–7 35 Recap 33 December 19 Carolina 1–8 Toronto Darling 19,288 14–12–7 35 Recap 34 December 21 Carolina 4–1 Nashville Ward 17,492 15–12–7 37 Recap 35 December 23 Buffalo 2–4 Carolina Ward 14,470 16–12–7 39 Recap 36 December 27 Montreal 1–3 Carolina Ward 14,880 17–12–7 41 Recap 37 December 29 Pittsburgh 1–2 Carolina Ward 17,975 18–12–7 43 Recap 38 December 30 Carolina 2–3 St. Louis Darling 18,749 18–13–7 43 Recap January: 5–6–1 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Washington 5–4 Carolina OT Ward 11,989 18–13–8 44 Recap 40 January 4 Carolina 4–0 Pittsburgh Ward 18,595 19–13–8 46 Recap 41 January 6 Carolina 1–7 Boston Ward 17,565 19–14–8 46 Recap 42 January 9 Carolina 4–5 Tampa Bay Ward 19,092 19–15–8 46 Recap 43 January 11 Carolina 3–1 Washington Darling 18,506 20–15–8 48 Recap 44 January 12 Washington 4–3 Carolina Ward 16,239 20–16–8 48 Recap 45 January 14 Calgary 4–1 Carolina Darling 15,218 20–17–8 48 Recap 46 January 20 Carolina 3–1 Detroit Ward 19,515 21–17–8 50 Recap 47 January 21 Vegas 5–1 Carolina Darling 15,303 21–18–8 50 Recap 48 January 23 Carolina 1–3 Pittsburgh Ward 18,421 21–19–8 50 Recap 49 January 25 Carolina 6–5 Montreal Ward 21,302 22–19–8 52 Recap 50 January 30 Ottawa 1–2 Carolina Ward 11,448 23–19–8 54 Recap February: 4–6–3 (Home: 4–4–2; Road: 0–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Montreal 0–2 Carolina Ward 11,953 24–19–8 56 Recap 52 February 2 Detroit 4–1 Carolina Darling 18,126 24–20–8 56 Recap 53 February 4 San Jose 3–1 Carolina Ward 11,614 24–21–8 56 Recap 54 February 6 Philadelphia 2–1 Carolina OT Ward 11,585 24–21–9 57 Recap 55 February 9 Vancouver 1–4 Carolina Darling 13,123 25–21–9 59 Recap 56 February 10 Colorado 1–3 Carolina Ward 15,589 26–21–9 61 Recap 57 February 13 Los Angeles 3–7 Carolina Ward 12,805 27–21–9 63 Recap 58 February 15 Carolina 2–5 New Jersey Darling 14,079 27–22–9 63 Recap 59 February 16 NY Islanders 3–0 Carolina Ward 15,448 27–23–9 63 Recap 60 February 18 New Jersey 3–2 Carolina OT Ward 18,680 27–23–10 64 Recap 61 February 23 Pittsburgh 6–1 Carolina Ward 18,180 27–24–10 64 Recap 62 February 24 Carolina 1–3 Detroit Darling 19,515 27–25–10 64 Recap 63 February 27 Carolina 3–4 Boston OT Darling 17,565 27–25–11 65 Recap March: 8–8–0 (Home: 3–5–0; Road: 5–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Carolina 4–1 Philadelphia Ward 19,245 28–25–11 67 Recap 65 March 2 New Jersey 1–3 Carolina Ward 14,337 29–25–11 69 Recap 66 March 4 Winnipeg 3–2 Carolina Ward 11,407 29–26–11 69 Recap 67 March 6 Carolina 2–6 Minnesota Ward 19,017 29–27–11 69 Recap 68 March 8 Carolina 3–2 Chicago Darling 21,681 30–27–11 71 Recap 69 March 12 Carolina 3–6 NY Rangers Darling 17,679 30–28–11 71 Recap 70 March 13 Boston 6–4 Carolina Ward 13,081 30–29–11 71 Recap 71 March 17 Philadelphia 4–2 Carolina Ward 14,805 30–30–11 71 Recap 72 March 18 Carolina 4–3 NY Islanders Darling 10,688 31–30–11 73 Recap 73 March 20 Edmonton 7–3 Carolina Darling 10,554 31–31–11 73 Recap 74 March 22 Arizona 5–6 Carolina Ward 10,535 32–31–11 75 Recap 75 March 24 Carolina 5–2 Ottawa Ward 16,555 33–31–11 77 Recap 76 March 26 Ottawa 1–4 Carolina Ward 10,817 34–31–11 79 Recap 77 March 27 Carolina 3–4 New Jersey Darling 15,521 34–32–11 79 Recap 78 March 30 Carolina 4–1 Washington Darling 18,506 35–32–11 81 Recap 79 March 31 NY Rangers 2–1 Carolina Ward 14,993 35–33–11 81 Recap April: 1–2–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Carolina 2–3 Florida Darling 10,619 35–34–11 81 Recap 81 April 5 Carolina 3–4 Philadelphia Darling 20,001 35–35–11 81 Recap 82 April 7 Tampa Bay 2–3 Carolina OT Ward 15,402 36–35–11 83 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final Skaters

Regular season Player 78 29 36 65 4 24 82 23 41 64 8 14 82 16 35 51 −9 56 82 24 25 49 −27 34 79 19 27 46 −4 26 81 16 28 44 −8 18 80 15 23 38 −15 28 79 10 22 32 −20 21 71 14 17 31 0 12 76 8 23 31 −26 48 80 16 14 30 −12 22 82 8 22 30 1 10 65 3 16 19 −6 18 79 3 13 16 9 20 49 5 8 13 0 17 37 3 6 9 −8 4 67 0 8 8 −2 14 10 3 4 7 4 2 75 2 5 7 −11 6 ‡ 31 3 3 6 −7 16 48 1 5 6 −6 28 33 1 4 5 −6 21 2 2 1 3 3 0 10 0 3 3 3 19 11 1 0 1 −4 2 4 0 0 0 −3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 43 42 2,459:20 23 14 4 112 2.73 1187 .906 2 0 0 14 43 40 2,475:07 13 21 7 131 3.18 1171 .888 0 0 0 2

Transactions The Hurricanes have been involved in the following transactions during the 2017–18 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Vegas Golden Knights5th-round pick in 2017 To Carolina HurricanesExpansion Draft Considerations To Vegas Golden Knights2nd-round pick in 2017 To Carolina HurricanesTrevor van Riemsdyk7th-round pick in 2018 To Vegas Golden Knights5th-round pick in 2018 To Carolina HurricanesMarcus Kruger To Pittsburgh PenguinsJosh Jooris To Carolina HurricanesGreg McKegg To Arizona CoyotesMarcus Kruger4th-round pick in 2018 To Carolina HurricanesJordan Martinook3rd-round pick in 2018 Notes The Vegas Golden Knights will select Connor Brickley in the 2017 NHL expansion draft.

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Justin Williams Washington Capitals 2-year, $9 million Josh Jooris Arizona Coyotes 1-year, $750,000 Brenden Kichton Winnipeg Jets 1-year, $700,000 Jeremy Smith Colorado Avalanche 1-year, $750,000 Michael Fora HC Ambrì-Piotta 2-year, entry-level contract

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Matt Tennyson Buffalo Sabres 2-year, $1.3 million Michael Leighton Tampa Bay Lightning 1-year, $650,000 Andrej Nestrasil Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 1-year Andrew Miller Fribourg-Gottéron 1-year Klas Dahlbeck CSKA Moscow 1-year

Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date Ref

Lost via waivers Player New team Date Ref

Lost via retirement Date Player Ref Bryan Bickell

Player signings Date Player Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Derek Ryan 1-year, $1.425 million Trevor Carrick 1-year, $670,000 Patrick Brown 1-year, $650,000 Jake Chelios 1-year, $650,000 Brock McGinn 2-year, $1.775 million Philip Samuelsson 1-year, $650,000 Dennis Robertson 1-year, $650,000 Jaccob Slavin 7-year, $37.1 million contract extension Martin Necas 3-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract Phillip Di Giuseppe 1-year, $725,000 Brett Pesce 6-year, $24.15 million Jeremy Helvig 3-year, $2.355 million entry-level contract Morgan Geekie 3-year, $2.4 million entry-level contract Trevor Carrick 1-year, $700,000 contract extension Patrick Brown 1-year, $650,000 contract extension Andrew Poturalski 1-year, $700,000 contract extension

Draft picks

Below are the Carolina Hurricanes' selections at the 2017 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 23 and 24, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 12 Martin Necas C Czech Republic HC Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga) 2 42 Eetu Luostarinen C Finland KalPa (Liiga) 2 521 Luke Martin D United States Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten) 3 672 Morgan Geekie C Canada Tri-City Americans (WHL) 3 73 Stelio Mattheos C Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 4 104 Eetu Makiniemi G Finland Jokerit U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) 6 166 Brendan De Jong D Canada Portland Winterhawks (WHL) 7 197 Ville Rasanen D Finland Jokipojat (Mestis) Draft notes: The New York Rangers' second-round pick will go to the Carolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on February 28, 2016, that sent Eric Staal to New York in exchange for Aleksi Saarela, a second-round pick in 2016 and this pick. The New Jersey Devils' third-round pick will go to the Carolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on March 5, 2014, that sent Tuomo Ruutu to New Jersey in exchange for Andrei Loktionov and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition and date of conversion are unknown.

References