List of Carolina Hurricanes seasons explained

The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The team is a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference of the NHL. This list documents the records and playoff results for all 22 seasons the Carolina Hurricanes have completed in the NHL since their relocation from Hartford, Connecticut, in 1997. The Hurricanes franchise was founded in 1971 as the New England Whalers, and played seven seasons in the World Hockey Association. The team moved to the National Hockey League in 1979, and changed names to the Hartford Whalers. The franchise played a total of 18 seasons before moving to North Carolina and changing their names to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are the only major pro sports team located in Raleigh.^[1] They are also the only North Carolina–based major professional sports team to ever win a championship.

Carolina played its first season in the Northeast Division before moving to the Southeast Division when the NHL realigned in 1998. The Hurricanes won one Stanley Cup, in 2005–06, and two Prince of Wales Trophy as Eastern Conference champions: 2001–02 and 2005–06. Carolina has finished atop its division six times in its history. The Hurricanes have played in over 1,800 games and qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs ten times. The 2021–22 season represented the 25th in North Carolina.

Table key

Color/symbol!scope="col"

Explanation
	Stanley Cup champions
	Conference champions
	Division champions
	Led league in points-->

Key of terms and abbreviations

Term or abbreviation	Definition
Finish	Final position in division or league standings
GP	Number of games played
W	Number of wins
L	Number of losses
T	Number of ties
OT	Number of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season)
Pts	Number of points
GF	Goals for (goals scored by the Hurricanes)
GA	Goals against (goals scored by the Hurricanes' opponents)
—	Does not apply

Year by year

Season	Team	Conference	Division	Regular season^[2]									Postseason^[3]
				Finish	GP	W	L	T^[4]	OT^[5]	Pts	GF	GA	GP	W	L	GF	GA	Result
Relocated from Hartford
	1997–98	Eastern	Northeast	6th	82	33	41	8	—	74	200	219	Did not qualify
	1998–99	Eastern	Southeast	1st	82	34	30	18	—	86	210	202	6	2	4	8	18	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 2–4 (Bruins)
	1999–2000	Eastern	Southeast	3rd	82	37	35	10	—	84	217	216	Did not qualify
	2000–01	Eastern	Southeast	2nd	82	38	32	9	3	88	212	225	6	2	4	8	20	Lost in conference quarterfinals, 2–4 (Devils)
	2001–02	Eastern	Southeast	1st	82	35	26	16	5	91	217	217	23	13	10	47	43	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–2 (Devils) Won in conference semifinals, 4–2 (Canadiens) Won in conference finals, 4–2 (Maple Leafs) Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 1–4 (Red Wings)
	2002–03	Eastern	Southeast	5th	82	22	43	11	6	61	171	240	Did not qualify
2003–04	2003–04	Eastern	Southeast	3rd	82	28	34	14	6	76	172	209	Did not qualify
2004–05	2004–05	Eastern	Southeast	Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
	2005–06	Eastern	Southeast	1st	82	52	22	—	8	112	294	260	25	16	9	73	60	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–2 (Canadiens) Won in conference semifinals, 4–1 (Devils) Won in conference finals, 4–3 (Sabres) Won in Stanley Cup Finals, 4–3 (Oilers)
		Eastern	Southeast	3rd	82	40	34	—	8	88	241	253	Did not qualify
2007–08	2007–08	Eastern	Southeast	2nd	82	43	33	—	6	92	252	249	Did not qualify
	2008–09	Eastern	Southeast	2nd	82	45	30	—	7	97	239	226	18	8	10	42	50	Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–3 (Devils) Won in conference semifinals, 4–3 (Bruins) Lost in conference finals, 0–4 (Penguins)
2009–10	2009–10	Eastern	Southeast	3rd	82	35	37	—	10	80	230	256	Did not qualify
2010–11	2010–11	Eastern	Southeast	3rd	82	40	31	—	11	91	236	239	Did not qualify
2011–12	2011–12	Eastern	Southeast	5th	82	33	33	—	16	82	213	243	Did not qualify
2012–13	2012–13	Eastern	Southeast	3rd	48	19	25	—	4	42	128	160	Did not qualify
2013–14	2013–14	Eastern	Metropolitan	7th	82	36	35	—	11	83	201	225	Did not qualify
2014–15	2014–15	Eastern	Metropolitan	8th	82	30	41	—	11	71	188	226	Did not qualify
2015–16	2015–16	Eastern	Metropolitan	6th	82	35	31	—	16	86	198	226	Did not qualify
2016–17	2016–17	Eastern	Metropolitan	7th	82	36	31	—	15	87	215	236	Did not qualify
2017–18	2017–18	Eastern	Metropolitan	6th	82	36	35	—	11	83	228	256	Did not qualify
2018–19	2018–19	Eastern	Metropolitan	4th	82	46	29	—	7	99	245	223	15	8	7	39	42	Won in first round, 4–3 (Capitals) Won in second round, 4–0 (Islanders) Lost in conference finals, 0–4 (Bruins)
2019–20	2019–20	Eastern	Metropolitan	4th	68	38	25	—	5	81	222	193	8	4	4	22	19	Won in qualifying round, 3–0 (Rangers) Lost in first round, 1–4 (Bruins)
2020–21	2020–21	—	Central	1st	56	36	12	—	8	80	179	136	11	5	6	31	30	Won in first round, 4–2 (Predators) Lost in second round, 1–4 (Lightning)
2021–22	2021–22	Eastern	Metropolitan	1st	82	54	20	—	8	116	278	202	14	7	7	37	40	Won in first round, 4–3 (Bruins) Lost in second round, 3–4 (Rangers)
2022–23	2022–23	Eastern	Metropolitan	1st	82	52	21	—	9	113	266	213	15	8	7	46	38	Won in first round, 4–2 (Islanders) Won in second round, 4–1 (Devils) Lost in conference finals, 0–4 (Panthers)
2023–24	2023–24	Eastern	Metropolitan	2nd	82	52	23	—	7	111	279	216	11	6	5	38	32	Won in first round, 4–1 (Islanders) Lost in second round, 2–4 (Rangers)
	Totals^[6]					2,058	985	789	86	198	2,254	5,773	5,771	162	84	78	393	392	11 playoff appearances

See also

• List of Hartford Whalers seasons

References

• Web site: Carolina Hurricanes season statistics and records. The Internet Hockey Database. 2008-04-02.
• Web site: Carolina Hurricanes Franchise Timeline. Carolina Hurricanes - NHL. 2008-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20090308133751/http://hurricanes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=2738. 2009-03-08. dead.
• Book: 2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes Media Guide . 2007 . Carolina Hurricanes.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Professional Sports . Things To Do . Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau . 2007 . 2008-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080319131513/http://www.visitraleigh.com/visitors/things_to_do/sports . 2008-03-19 . dead .
2. Code explanation; GP—Games Played, W—Wins, L—Losses, T—Tied games, OT—Overtime/Shootout losses, GF—Goals For, GA—Goals Against, Pts—Points
3. The result of the playoff series shows the Hurricanes' result first regardless of the outcome, followed by opposite team in parentheses.
4. Beginning in 2005, ties were eliminated
5. Beginning in 1999, overtime (and later shootout) losses are worth one point
6. Totals as of the completion of the 2023–24 season