2015–16 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2015–16 Carolina Hurricanes season was the 37th 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 18th season since the franchise relocated from Hartford to start the 1997–98 NHL season. The season will begin its regular games on October 8, 2015 against the Nashville Predators. The Hurricanes failed to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 Pre-season game log: 4–2–0 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Carolina 0–2 Washington MacIntyre 15,955 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 22 Carolina 3–7 Pittsburgh Ward 17,781 0–2–0 Recap 3 September 26 NY Islanders 3–5 Carolina MacIntyre –– 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 27 Ottawa 1–2 Carolina Ward –– 2–2–0 Recap 5 September 30 Washington 3–4 Carolina SO Lack 6,256 3–2–0 Recap 6 October 2 Pittsburgh 1–2 Carolina Ward 7,986 4–2–0 Recap

Regular season 2015–16 Game Log October: 5–6–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 4–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Carolina 1–2 Nashville Ward 17,204 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 10 Detroit 4–3 Carolina Ward 18,949 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 13 Florida 4–1 Carolina Lack 10,901 0–3–0 0 Recap 4 October 16 Carolina 5–3 Detroit Ward 20,027 1–3–0 2 Recap 5 October 17 Carolina 1–4 Washington Ward 18,506 1–4–0 2 Recap 6 October 21 Carolina 1–0 Colorado OT Ward 12,826 2–4–0 4 Recap 7 October 23 Carolina 0–3 Los Angeles Ward 18,230 2–5–0 4 Recap 8 October 24 Carolina 2–5 San Jose Lack 15,814 2–6–0 4 Recap 9 October 27 Carolina 3–1 Detroit Ward 20,027 3–6–0 6 Recap 10 October 29 Carolina 3–2 NY Islanders OT Lack 11,494 4–6–0 8 Recap 11 October 30 Colorado 2–3 Carolina Ward 9,345 5–6–0 10 Recap November: 3–6–4 (Home: 3–3–3; Road: 0–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Tampa Bay 4–3 Carolina Ward 9,081 5–7–0 10 Recap 13 November 6 Dallas 4–1 Carolina Lack 10,188 5–8–0 10 Recap 14 November 7 Ottawa 2–3 Carolina OT Ward 10,005 6–8–0 12 Recap 15 November 10 Carolina 0–3 NY Rangers Ward 18,006 6–9–0 12 Recap 16 November 12 Minnesota 3–2 Carolina OT Ward 9,511 6–9–1 13 Recap 17 November 14 Philadelphia 3–2 Carolina OT Ward 13,758 6–9–2 14 Recap 18 November 16 Anaheim 4–1 Carolina Lack 9,305 6–10–2 14 Recap 19 November 20 Toronto 2–1 Carolina SO Ward 10,327 6–10–3 15 Recap 20 November 22 Los Angeles 3–4 Carolina Ward 10,154 7–10–3 17 Recap 21 November 23 Carolina 2–3 Philadelphia OT Lack 18,636 7–10–4 18 Recap 22 November 25 Edmonton 1–4 Carolina Ward 17,757 8–10–4 20 Recap 23 November 27 Carolina 1–4 Buffalo Ward 18,052 8–11–4 20 Recap 24 November 30 Carolina 3–4 NY Rangers Ward 18,006 8–12–4 20 Recap December: 8–5–1 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 3 New Jersey 5–1 Carolina Lack 9,254 8–13–4 20 Recap 26 December 5 Montreal 2–3 Carolina Ward 10,687 9–13–4 22 Recap 27 December 6 Arizona 4–5 Carolina Ward 9,021 10–13–4 24 Recap 28 December 8 Carolina 5–6 Dallas Lack 18,287 10–14–4 24 Recap 29 December 11 Carolina 5–1 Anaheim Lack 17,174 11–14–4 26 Recap 30 December 12 Carolina 5–4 Arizona OT Lack 12,668 12–14–4 28 Recap 31 December 15 Carolina 3–4 Philadelphia OT Lack 18,205 12–14–5 29 Recap 32 December 18 Florida 2–0 Carolina Ward 10,511 12–15–5 29 Recap 33 December 19 Carolina 2–1 Pittsburgh Ward 18,590 13–15–5 31 Recap 34 December 21 Washington 2–1 Carolina Ward 13,228 13–16–5 31 Recap 35 December 26 New Jersey 1–3 Carolina Ward 11,654 14–16–5 33 Recap 36 December 27 Carolina 2–1 Chicago Lack 22,157 15–16–5 35 Recap 37 December 29 Carolina 2–3 New Jersey Ward 16,514 15–17–5 35 Recap 38 December 31 Washington 2–4 Carolina Lack 14,134 16–17–5 37 Recap January: 7–3–3 (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Nashville 2–1 Carolina OT Lack 12,149 16–17–6 38 Recap 40 January 4 Carolina 0–1 Edmonton OT Ward 16,839 16–17–7 39 Recap 41 January 6 Carolina 2–3 Vancouver Lack 18,364 16–18–7 39 Recap 42 January 8 Columbus 1–4 Carolina Ward 14,241 17–18–7 41 Recap 43 January 9 Carolina 4–3 Columbus OT Ward 16,532 18–18–7 43 Recap 44 January 12 Pittsburgh 2–3 Carolina OT Ward 13,012 19–18–7 45 Recap 45 January 14 Carolina 4–1 St. Louis Lack 19,282 20–18–7 47 Recap 46 January 15 Vancouver 3–2 Carolina OT Ward 11,657 20–18–8 48 Recap 47 January 17 Carolina 0–5 Pittsburgh Lack 18,528 20–19–8 48 Recap 48 January 21 Carolina 1–0 Toronto OT Lack 18,981 21–19–8 50 Recap 49 January 22 NY Rangers 4–1 Carolina Lack 14,102 21–20–8 50 Recap 50 January 24 Calgary 2–5 Carolina Lack 9,934 22–20–8 52 Recap 51 January 26 Chicago 0–5 Carolina Lack 14,588 23–20–8 54 Recap February: 5–6–2 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 1–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 3 Carolina 1–4 Calgary Lack 18,895 23–21–8 54 Recap 53 February 5 Carolina 5–3 Winnipeg Ward 15,924 24–21–8 56 Recap 54 February 7 Carolina 1–2 Montreal SO Ward 21,288 24–21–9 57 Recap 55 February 12 Pittsburgh 2–1 Carolina SO Ward 15,783 24–21–10 58 Recap 56 February 13 NY Islanders 3–6 Carolina Ward 12,665 25–21–10 60 Recap 57 February 16 Winnipeg 1–2 Carolina Lack 10,489 26–21–10 62 Recap 58 February 18 Carolina 2–4 Ottawa Lack 16,994 26–22–10 62 Recap 59 February 19 San Jose 2–5 Carolina Ward 11,756 27–22–10 64 Recap 60 February 21 Tampa Bay 4–2 Carolina Ward 10,422 27–23–10 64 Recap 61 February 23 Philadelphia 1–3 Carolina Ward 10,896 28–23–10 66 Recap 62 February 25 Carolina 1–3 Toronto Ward 18,862 28–24–10 66 Recap 63 February 26 Boston 4–1 Carolina Ward 17,917 28–25–10 66 Recap 64 February 28 St. Louis 5–2 Carolina Ward 15,128 28–26–10 66 Recap March: 6–2–6 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 3–1–5) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 1 Carolina 3–1 New Jersey Ward 14,251 29–26–10 68 Recap 66 March 5 Carolina 3–4 Tampa Bay OT Lack 19,092 29–26–11 69 Recap 67 March 8 Ottawa 3–4 Carolina SO Ward 10,743 30–26–11 71 Recap 68 March 10 Carolina 3–2 Boston OT Ward 17,565 31–26–11 73 Recap 69 March 12 Carolina 2–3 Buffalo OT Ward 19,070 31–26–12 74 Recap 70 March 15 Carolina 1–2 Washington OT Lack 18,506 31–26–13 75 Recap 71 March 17 Carolina 2–4 Pittsburgh Lack 18,455 31–27–13 75 Recap 72 March 19 Carolina 2–3 Minnesota SO Ward 19,044 31–27–14 76 Recap 73 March 22 Buffalo 3–2 Carolina Ward 10,372 31–28–14 76 Recap 74 March 24 Carolina 3–2 Columbus Lack 15,624 32–28–14 78 Recap 75 March 26 NY Islanders 4–3 Carolina OT Lack 11,636 32–28–15 79 Recap 76 March 27 New Jersey 2–3 Carolina Ward 12,792 33–28–15 81 Recap 77 March 29 Carolina 1–2 NY Islanders SO Ward 13,733 33–28–16 82 Recap 78 March 31 NY Rangers 3–4 Carolina Ward 16,336 34–28–16 84 Recap April: 1–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 Columbus 5–1 Carolina Lack 11,542 34–29–16 84 Recap 80 April 5 Carolina 2–1 Boston SO Ward 17,565 35–29–16 86 Recap 81 April 7 Montreal 4–2 Carolina Ward 15,120 35–30–16 86 Recap 82 April 9 Carolina 2–5 Florida Lack 18,434 35–31–16 86 RecapLegend:

Player stats Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 28 23 51 −2 38 82 20 28 48 6 34 80 21 27 48 −6 24 82 11 28 39 −23 24 64 16 21 37 −22 27 ‡ 63 11 22 33 −6 36 ‡ 63 10 23 33 −3 32 71 10 14 24 1 12 55 9 14 23 4 8 64 9 13 22 −5 18 79 4 18 22 −14 22 63 2 18 20 1 8 81 5 14 19 −13 37 41 7 10 17 0 18 69 4 12 16 −7 16 ‡ 64 6 9 15 −3 16 68 8 3 11 −12 16 77 3 8 11 −17 24 35 0 10 10 −1 10 47 3 4 7 −15 14 57 2 4 6 −11 75 21 3 1 4 −14 10 6 2 0 2 1 2 7 1 1 2 4 4 36 1 0 1 −5 12 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 −4 0 5 0 0 0 0 7 2 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 52 51 3,038 23 17 10 122 2.41 1343 .909 1 0 0 0 34 31 1,920 12 14 6 90 2.81 910 .901 2 0 2 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Hurricanes. Stats reflect time with the Hurricanes only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Hurricanes only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Third Star of the Week December 14, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 1st Career NHL Game October 8, 2015 N. Hanifin 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point October 10, 2015 1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point October 16, 2015 1st Career NHL Game October 24, 2015 B. Pesce 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point October 30, 2015 250th Career NHL Win October 30, 2015 C. Ward 30,000 Career NHL Minutes November 10, 2015 N. Hanifin 1st Career NHL Goal November 16, 2015 1st Career NHL Game November 20, 2015 B. Pesce 1st Career NHL Goal November 22, 2015 100th Career NHL Game November 22, 2015 J. Slavin 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point November 30, 2015 1st Career NHL Game December 5, 2015 500th Career NHL Game December 8, 2015 J. Slavin 1st Career NHL Goal December 8, 2015 P. Di Giuseppe 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point December 8, 2015 200th Career NHL Game December 19, 2015 100th Career NHL Assist December 19, 2015 100th Career NHL Game December 26, 2015 800th Career NHL Game December 27, 2015 J. Faulk 200th Career NHL Game December 31, 2015 200th Career NHL Assist December 31, 2015 K. Versteeg 300th Career NHL Point January 9, 2016

Transactions

The Hurricanes have been involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 season.

Trades

DateRef June 27, 2015 To Vancouver Canucks 3rd-round pick in 20157th-round pick in 2016 To Carolina Hurricanes Eddie Lack June 27, 2015 To Anaheim Ducks Anton Khudobin To Carolina Hurricanes James Wisniewski September 11, 2015 To Chicago Blackhawks Dennis RobertsonJake Massie5th-round pick in 2017 To Carolina Hurricanes Kris VersteegJoakim Nordstrom3rd-round pick in 2017 February 28, 2016 To New York Rangers Eric Staal To Carolina Hurricanes Aleksi Saarela2nd-round pick in 20162nd-round pick in 2017 February 29, 2016 To Los Angeles Kings Kris Versteeg To Carolina Hurricanes Valentin ZykovConditional 5th-round pick in 2016 February 29, 2016 To Chicago Blackhawks Drew MacIntyre To Carolina Hurricanes Dennis Robertson February 29, 2016 To Boston Bruins John-Michael Liles To Carolina Hurricanes Anthony Camara3rd-round pick in 20165th-round pick in 2017 March 7, 2016 To Vancouver Canucks Future considerations To Carolina Hurricanes Dane Fox June 15, 2016 To Chicago Blackhawks NYR's 2nd round pick in 2016 CHI's 3rd round pick in 2017 To Carolina Hurricanes Teuvo TeravainenBryan Bickell Notes Carolina to retain 50% ($4.125 million) of salary as part of trade.

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2015 T.J. Hensick Hamilton Bulldogs 1 year, $600,000 March 8, 2016 Andrew Poturalski University of New Hampshire 2 years, $1.5325 million entry-level contract April 22, 2016 Jake Chelios Charlotte Checkers 1 year, $575,000

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref July 2, 2015 Ben Holmstrom New York Islanders 1 year, $750,000 July 24, 2015 Alexander Semin Montreal Canadiens 1 year, $1.1 million

Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date

Lost via waivers Player New team Date

Lost via retirement Date Player July 15, 2015 Greg Nemisz

Players released Date Player Via Ref July 1, 2015 Alexander Semin Buyout

Player signings