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 National Hockey League (NHL). This list documents the records and playoff results for all 28 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 (WHA). The team moved to the NHL in 1979, and changed its 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 professional sports team located in Raleigh. 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 1998–99. The Hurricanes won two Stanley Cups in 2005–06 and 2025–26, and three Prince of Wales Trophy as Eastern Conference champions in 2001–02, 2005–06 and 2025–26. Carolina has finished atop its division seven times in its history. The Hurricanes have played in over 2,200 games and qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs 13 times. The 2021–22 season represented the 25th in North Carolina.

Table key +Key of colors and symbolsColor/symbolExplanation Stanley Cup champions Conference champions Division champions

+Key of terms and abbreviationsTerm or abbreviationDefinitionFinishFinal position in division or league standingsGPNumber of games playedWNumber of winsLNumber of lossesTNumber of tiesOTNumber of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season)PtsNumber of pointsGFGoals for (goals scored by the Hurricanes)GAGoals against (goals scored by the Hurricanes' opponents)—Does not apply

Year by year SeasonTeamConferenceDivisionRegular seasonCode explanation; GP—Games played, W—Wins, L—Losses, T—Tied games, OT—Overtime/shootout losses, GF—Goals for, GA—Goals against, Pts—PointsPostseasonThe result of the playoff series shows the Hurricanes' result first regardless of the outcome, followed by opposite team in parentheses.FinishGPWLTBeginning in 2005, ties were eliminatedOTBeginning in 1999, overtime (and later shootout) losses are worth one pointPtsGFGAGPWLGFGAResult Relocated from Hartford 1997–98 1997–98 Eastern Northeast 6th 82 33 41 8 — 74 200 219Did not qualify 1998–99 1998–99 EasternSoutheast 1st 82 34 30 18 — 86 210 202 6 2 4 8 18 Lost in conference quarterfinals, 2–4 (Bruins) 1999–2000 1999–2000 Eastern Southeast 3rd 82 37 35 10 — 84 217 216 Did not qualify 2000–01 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 2001–02EasternSoutheast 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 Final, 1–4 (Red Wings) 2002–03 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 SoutheastSeason canceled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout 2005–06 2005–06EasternSoutheast 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 Final, 4–3 (Oilers) 2006–07 2006–07 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 249Did not qualify 2008–09 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 256Did not qualify 2010–11 2010–11 Eastern Southeast 3rd 82 40 31 — 11 91 236 239Did not qualify 2011–12 2011–12 Eastern Southeast 5th 82 33 33 — 16 82 213 243Did not qualify 2012–13 2012–13 Eastern Southeast 3rd 48 19 25 — 4 42 128 160Did not qualify 2013–14 2013–14 Eastern Metropolitan 7th 82 36 35 — 11 83 201 225Did not qualify 2014–15 2014–15 Eastern Metropolitan 8th 82 30 41 — 11 71 188 226Did not qualify 2015–16 2015–16 Eastern Metropolitan 6th 82 35 31 — 16 86 198 226Did not qualify 2016–17 2016–17 Eastern Metropolitan 7th 82 36 31 — 15 87 215 236Did not qualify 2017–18 2017–18 Eastern Metropolitan 6th 82 36 35 — 11 83 228 256Did 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 EasternMetropolitan 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 EasternMetropolitan 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) 2024–25 2024–25 Eastern Metropolitan 2nd 82 47 30 — 5 99 266 233 15 9 6 44 39 Won in first round, 4–1 (Devils)Won in second round, 4–1 (Capitals)Lost in conference finals, 1–4 (Panthers) 2025–26 2025–26EasternMetropolitan 1st 82 53 22 — 7 113 296 240 19 16 3 66 39 Won in first round, 4–0 (Senators)Won in second round, 4–0 (Flyers)Won in conference finals, 4–1 (Canadiens)Won in Stanley Cup Final, 4–2 (Golden Knights)TotalsTotals as of the completion of the 2025–26 season 2,222 1,085 841 86 210 2,466 6,335 6,244 186 104 82 503 470 13 playoff appearances

See also List of Hartford Whalers seasons

References

Further reading