What happened: Former Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford revisited the franchise's 2006 championship run on The PuckPedia Hockey Show. Rutherford discussed roster construction ahead of the trade deadline and Cam Ward's Conn Smythe Trophy playoff performance.

Why it matters: Carolina entered the 2005-06 campaign projected for the bottom of the standings before securing the first Stanley Cup in Rutherford's midseason roster maneuvers and reliance on a rookie goaltender remain a benchmark for trade deadline execution.

What to watch: The Hurricanes continue their 2026-27 regular-season schedule as front offices around the league evaluate trade targets ahead of the deadline.